Teens address UN torture committee over Scottish human rights record
Two Scottish teenagers are set to become the youngest people ever to address the United Nations’ committee against torture.
EJ Carrol land Katrina Lambert, both 18, will give evidence on Scotland’ s human rights record to the committee today, supported by the Children’s and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, Bruce Adamson, in their roles as Human Rights Defenders.
The evidence session will inform the committee as it prepares to examine the UK Government tomorrow over where the UK and devolved governments fail to meet international human rights obligations.
Focus on Scotland will include the committee hearing about the age of crimin al responsibility, the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, physical punishment of children and the use of so-called mosquito devices, which emit high pitches audible only to young people.
Ms Carroll, from Midlothian, said: “Children and young people have the right to be included and our views taken seriously at the highest levels when it comes to issues that affect our lives.”
Ms Lambert, from Edinburgh, said: “Having young people at the heart of the UN is absolutely crucial. We’re so excited to have this opportunity to address the committee but we don’t want to bean exception to the norm; children and young people should be included here and in other places of influence.”
Mr Adams on said it was important young people made their own case to the UN about issues that affect children and young people’s lives, including the age at which children are criminalised.
“The Scottish Government wants to be a human rights leader but is acting contrary to that by choosing to set the age at which we criminalise children at 12,” Mr Adamson said. “This debate has seen unprecedented interventions from the United Nations and the Council of Europe, who have been absolutely clear that anything below 14 years cannot be justified in human rights terms.
“The positive and progressive things we do in Scotland don’t allow us to ignore international minimums which apply to all countries.
“Only last week, the First Minister announced a commitment to fully protect the rights of children by incor - porating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into S cots law by the end of this Parliament in 2021.
“While this announcement is to be applauded, it shouldn’t distract from the areas where Scotland is clearly failing, areas that young people themselves will evidence in Geneva on Monday .”