Children’s Rights (UNCRC) in Edinburgh

UNCRC & GIRFEC: Working Together for Children’s Rights

How Does the UNCRC Link to GIRFEC?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) are both designed to protect, support, and empower children and young people in Scotland.

  1. UNCRC is a global agreement that sets out the rights of every child.
  2. GIRFEC is Scotland’s national approach to making these rights real by ensuring every child gets the right support at the right time.

Together, they create a strong framework to ensure children’s wellbeing, safety, and development.

How UNCRC Principles Align with GIRFEC

The UNCRC and GIRFEC share the same goals: ensuring children are safe, healthy, included, and respected in all areas of life.

  • Protection & Safety – UNCRC gives children the right to be protected from harm (Article 19). GIRFEC ensures agencies work together to keep children safe.
  • Education & Development – UNCRC guarantees every child the right to an education (Article 28). GIRFEC ensures schools provide the right support for learning.
  • Having a Voice – UNCRC states children have the right to express their views (Article 12). GIRFEC encourages child-centred decision-making.
  • Wellbeing & Support – UNCRC promotes a child’s right to health and care (Article 24). GIRFEC ensures every child gets the right support at the right time.

The Wellbeing Wheel: How GIRFEC Puts Children’s Rights into Practice

GIRFEC uses the Wellbeing Indicators (SHANARRI) to make sure children’s rights are met in everyday life: 

  • Safe – Protected from harm
  • Healthy – Physical and mental wellbeing supported
  • Achieving – Encouraged to learn and grow
  • Nurtured – Cared for, and supported
  • Active – Able to play and take part in activities
  • Respected – Listened to and involved in decisions
  • Responsible – Encouraged to make positive choices
  • Included – Part of their community
GIRFEC Wellbeing Wheel

 See the full Wellbeing Wheel on the Forth Valley GIRFEC page 

Making Children’s Rights a Reality in Scotland

Scotland is committed to embedding the UNCRC into law, ensuring that all policies and services put children’s rights first. GIRFEC helps deliver this by bringing together schools, health services, and social care to provide the best support for every child.

For more details, check out:

Learn More & Get Involved!

Visit the Scottish Government’s UNCRC website: Children's rights - Human rights - gov.scot Every child has rights. Every child deserves support. Together, UNCRC & GIRFEC make this possible!