News and stories

STATEMENT: Bruce Adamson welcomes nomination of Nicola Killean as next Children’s Commissioner 

Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, leaves the role next month when his six-year mandate comes to an end. Today, the Scottish Parliament announced Nicola Killean has been

Children need protection from energy disconnection

We continue to have serious concerns about children affected by energy insecurity and fuel poverty. Ofgem has published a Code of Practice for suppliers on involuntary installation of Prepayment meters

Statement: Value children as rights-holders in digital spaces

Making spaces for conversations about life online is not just a ‘nice thing to do’; children have a right to participate in matters that affect them and involving children is crucial aspect of a rights-based approach. On Safer Internet Day, I’ll be supporting a group of children and young people to meet with UN experts to talk about the issues that matter – both offline and online. Children must be at the heart of designing improvements to ensure that they can participate online, while being protected from harm. 

Commissioner strongly opposes medical age assessment of child refugees

“The Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee (AESAC)’s report makes for concerning reading. It recommends that ‘scientific methods’ including x-rays and MRIs can be used in some circumstances to assess the age of child refugees, despite recognising that they are inaccurate and potentially harmful. Scientific methods are widely condemned by human rights bodies as invasive, traumatising and inaccurate. 

Children’s Commissioners warn poverty persists and children will bear the burden

Joint statement reacting to Autumn Statement from Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Rocio Cifuentes, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, and Koulla Yiasouma, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

Statement: Commissioner urges Scottish and UK Governments to remove immunity for Scottish Ministers

Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson backs families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay as they seek justice for their deaths in custody.

Statement: Commissioner intervenes in hotel accommodation for pregnant asylum seekers

It is gravely concerning that there are reports of pregnant mothers and infants being housed in hotel rooms and without the financial support they need. Hotel accommodation is completely unsuitable for children and families and should only be used on a short-term basis in an emergency.  

Statement: Commissioner condemns racist abuse of children

Commissioner Bruce Adamson offers support to children at a primary school in Glasgow after they were targeted by racism.

Statement: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Commissioners call on Governments to address cost-of-living

The UK and devolved governments are failing in their obligation to use all available resources to the maximum extent possible to ensure children’s rights. Every Government must take a children’s rights-based approach to how it monitors and responds to this crisis over the coming months. We must see deliberate and targeted action to stifle its impact on children and their ability to access and experience their rights.