The Scottish Youth Parliament: Brexit manifesto recommendations

Young people's voices should have a representative place in the Brexit negotiations now and throughout the process

For many years – even before the 2016 EU referendum – Brexit has dominated discussions among politicians and in the media. As the UK moves closer to leaving the European Union, with a new deadline of October 31st 2019, many children and young people are frustrated that they are excluded and ignored in these discussions.

The Scottish Youth Parliament’s Rights Outright: Brexit manifesto recommends: “young people should have a far more official, meaningful voice and representative place in the Brexit negotiations now and throughout the process. Their right to participation under Article 12 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child must be met by both the Scottish and UK decision-makers.”

Brexit will impact on all areas of children’s human rights. Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights), Eurochild member, has raised particular concerns about the extent to which it will affect cross border family law, impacting on children’s right to know both parents (Article 9) and right to family reunification (Article 10), and well as protections for children’s best interests (Article 3) and right to be involved in decisions that affect them (Article 12).

More information is available here.