Child Impact Assessments: Part of an overall strategy of ‘mainstreaming’ children’s rights and issues?

1. Child Impact Assessments:Part of an overall strategy of ‘mainstreaming’ children’s rights and issues? Dr Kay Tisdall Programme Director, MSc in Childhood Studies (University of Edinburgh)

2. The Child Strategy Statement • Why does it matter? • What are the options?

3. 1. The Child Strategy Statement Children form one-fifth of Scotland's population, but may have only limited opportunity to consider or comment on policies which impact on them. Whereas most adults are silent by choice, many children are not in a position to have an influence on matters which greatly affect them. In the vast majority of instances, adults in the wider community act effectively in the interests of children. However it remains the case that children have decisions made about, for and against their interests without their views being taken or needs properly considered. In families in danger of being socially excluded, the scope for children's needs to be overlooked is even greater. (para 3, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/social/css-00.asp)

4. Children’s Rights Audit 2000-01(CIS funded by UNICEF) … the Child Strategy Statement could be a vital means to ‘proof’ all policies by UNCRC requirements. It presently, however, lacks ‘teeth’. The Statement is dependent on Scottish Executive Departments deciding themselves whether their policies will impact on children and young people. No proactive role is stated for the Executive’s Children and Families Division. No monitoring of the Statement is required. Even if the Statement is working extremely well, people outside the Executive have no way of knowing as the Statement has no requirement for public reporting on its working and results. (page 50).

5. 2. Why does it matter? Three legislative examples • Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 • Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 • Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill

6. Advisers in First Minister’s Office Child impact analysis Senior Cabinet Minister Budget analysis Designated Minister for Children Annual Report to Parliament Cabinet Committee 3. What are the options? The Executive Structure Making children visible Governmental Strategy for Children Effective Government Structures for Children Children’s Commissioner Children’s Committee in Parliament

7. Child Impact Assessment A Child Impact assessment can be described as a prior assessment of the impact which a decision can have on the child or group of children affected by it. … A Child Impact Assessment with a close analysis and balancing of relevant interests furnishes a more advanced basis for decision-making, thus facilitating a total assessment of the decision’s impact on the child or children. (2001) Child Impact Assessments: Swedish Experience of Child Impact Analyses as a Tool for Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is available at www.crin.org

8. The mainstreaming agenda?http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality No one should be denied opportunities because of their race or ethnicity, their disability, their gender or sexual orientation, their age or religion. This principle underpins all the work of the Executive. Sub Panels Disabled people Raising the profile of disabled people and the contributions they make to our communities Women and men Inequality still exits between women and men; a range of work is being carried out to tackle these inequalities Violence against women and domestic abuse Raising awareness, improving information and ensuring that women and children get support and protection Race equality Work to tackle racism and discrimination and promote equality Refugees and asylum seekers Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers Age equality Work to promote age equality for older people Sexual orientation Information about activities to mainstream sexual orientation equality issues Mainstreaming equality Work to ensure that all Executive policies address equality issues, including work relating to the budget and public appointments