Abstract
An established body of multi-disciplinary evidence demonstrates that children and young people's lived experiences and spheres of influence are fundamental to their wellbeing and realisation of rights, with adversity suggested to have significant and long-term consequences. For the past two decades the Scottish Government has responded with a sustained strategic commitment to children and preventive policy measures. Only recently have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) assumed a prominent role in this context. A corresponding policy development in Scotland has been on children's rights, with significant steps taken towards implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This has involved a focus on incorporation, with the tag line ‘making rights real’. By analysing key literature and policy documents, this article considers the extent and shape of the interconnections between these policy areas. Informed by Carol Bacchi's problem representation framework, we identify evidence of conceptual pairing. However, deep engagement in children's rights appears to be lacking, as is children and young people's active role in national ACE-policy review and development.
Highlights
An established body of multi-disciplinary evidence demonstrates children and young people’s lived experiences and spheres of influence are fundamental to their wellbeing and realisation of rights, with early life adversity suggested to have significant and long-term consequences
Informed by Carol Bacchi’s (1999; 2009) ‘what’s the problem represented to be’ (WPR) approach, we examine key Scottish Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)-policy documents, interrogating the relationship between ACEs and children’s rights
Our aim is to begin a nuanced conversation on the complex interconnections between ACEs and children’s rights, and to highlight the possibilities that can come from engaging children and young people meaningfully in this process
Summary
An established body of multi-disciplinary evidence demonstrates children and young people’s lived experiences and spheres of influence are fundamental to their wellbeing and realisation of rights, with early life adversity suggested to have significant and long-term consequences. These concerns are at the forefront of Scottish policy through sustained strategic commitment to the early years and preventive policy measures. While recent policy has sought to contexualise ACEs within an inequalities framework (Public Health Scotland, 2020), a gap has been the consideration of children’s rights within the emergent ACE-policy. By shifting the focus from 'problem' solving to 'problem' questioning, we reflect on the way constructions of public policy can leave other issues – such as children’s rights – underexplored or neglected
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