Children's rights: Kids in Scotland to have their say on issues that matter to them

Thousands of children in Scotland are going to get a chance to speak up about the issues that matter to them.

Scotland's Children's Commissioner Nicola Killean wants young people across the country to tell her about what they think is important and what they want her to focus on.

A questionnaire and learning pack has been launched to help children in Scotland give their feedback and priorities so Nicola Killean can shape a plan for her four years in the job.

"Our work must be guided and shaped by children and young people," she said. "I never forget that they are my boss, and with one million children in Scotland, that's a lot of bosses! "

Nicola Killean is Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People

Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland each have a Children's Commissioner to represent young people.

They are independent from the government, and it is their job to help improve opportunities for young people across the country and stand up for children's rights.

One of the ways this can be done is through helping to shape the government policies that affect children's lives, particularly the most vulnerable.

Scotland also has a group of Young Advisors who work with the Children's Commissioner. They are aged from 12-17 and meet to share their experiences and views and sometimes speak out on children's rights issues, including giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament.

What issues are important to children?

According to work already done by the Office of the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, the issues children and young people in Scotland are most concerned about are:

• Education 

• Mental Health 

• Poverty 

• Discrimination 

• Climate Change 

Nicola Killean says she wants to know if these are still the issues children care most about now and for the future so that she can better represent their views.

Over the next couple of months, as part of a project called Your Rights, Our Plan, Nicola says she and her team will travel across Scotland to work with children and young people, paying particular particular attention to groups whose rights are most at risk.

It is hoped the views shared by children in Scotland will help shape the way the government approaches issues affecting kids.

How to get involved

The Your Rights, Our Plan project began on World Children's Day and you may notice that you have an assembly about it or your teachers discuss it with you too.

It will be made available through schools and also in youth groups and charities who work with children and young people.