Let’s Talk About Babies’ Rights: Starcatchers joins celebrations as UNCRC incorporated into Scots Law

Scotland’s arts and early years organisation is shining a light on babies’ rights as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is incorporated into Scots Law. On Tuesday 16th July, Starcatchers will join the national celebration at the historic moment the act is incorporated. Having recently shared the findings of their pioneering research into the Voice of the Baby, Starcatchers is set to continue asking the question: what about the babies?

The research, in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Queen Margaret University, has resulted in a methodology for engaging in meaningful participation with pre- and non-verbal children. The Voice of the Baby: A Reflective Guide for the Arts was officially launched in June alongside a suite of resources designed to support the practical application of this approach for all professionals across sectors who work with babies, toddlers and very young children.

Joining Children’s Rights organisations, Together and Children In Scotland, in online celebrations, Starcatchers continues to highlight the importance of including Scotland’s very youngest children in the discourse.

Starcatchers’ Chief Executive, Rhona Matheson says:
Our decision to use the word ‘Baby’ is a deliberate response to babies and young children being historically overlooked within children’s rights policy and practice. Babies are born communicating, but because they are non-verbal, they are very often left out or forgotten when it comes to including their ‘voices’ in matters that affect them. Our Voice of the Baby In Practice work breaks down the barriers to meaningful consultation with babies and uses the arts as the vehicle to ensure their voices are heard and understood. We know that creative experiences can be powerful mechanisms for babies from birth to realise and fulfil their rights under the UNCRC. The Voice of the Baby Reflective Guide and the In Practice Resource is only a small step in the consideration of the ‘voice’ of babies and very young children in Scotland. It is, however, an exciting step towards enabling increased visibility of babies and their inclusion in discussions regarding their rights.

For more information on Starcatchers Voice of the Baby research and In Practice resources visit www.starcatchers.org.uk/work/the-voice-of-the-baby/.