Scotland: Amnesty International responds to latest Scottish child poverty statistics

The Scottish Government's child poverty statistics were issued today, showing a small drop in relative child poverty. Responding to the statistics, Neil Cowan (Scotland Programme Director, Amnesty International) said:

“It is welcome that child poverty is reducing in Scotland. But far too many children across the country are still growing up in the grip of poverty, with their rights being denied and their life chances being restricted. Despite progress, this is not the time for complacency and we still remain on course to miss Scotland’s legally-binding child poverty targets. That is just not good enough.

Now is the time to re-commit to meeting those targets, and to ending the injustice of child poverty in Scotland for good. As well as backing steps like increasing the Scottish Child Payment, Scotland’s political parties must use this election to commit to a new Human Rights Bill that would put everyday rights – like the right to an adequate standard of living – into Scots law. By doing so, they would be taking a vital step toward a more just Scotland where nobody has to struggle for life’s essentials.”