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• Call for evidence: UNCRC 2015 Civil Society Submission Later this year, the UN will look at how well the UK does at protecting the rights of children here in England. The UN wants to hear from civil society in the UK about our assessment of the situation facing children. This is our chance to tell our side of the story in an “alternative” NGO report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
  
  Last time this happened, in 2008, over 100 NGOs and other stakeholders signed up to the alternative report. We want to get even more involved this time. We need you, the experts, to help.
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• Blog: warnings about the use of Tasers on children must not be ignored Tasers, particularly when used against children, can be so violent that the UN’s Committee against Torture has said that Tasers cause pain severe enough to amount to torture. Tasers can also cause death. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concerns it is inhuman and degrading to use Tasers against children as their use poses a serious risk of harm - both physical and psychological. This blog considers the latest statistics and asks whether police in England are only using Tasers on children and young people when absolutely necessary. Read more
• Court clarifies rules on stripping children in police custody Children being 'stripped for their own protection' by police must have a parent or appropriate adult with them, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Today, the Court said safeguards set out in the Codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act must be followed by police whenever a child or vulnerable adult is stripped. Read more
• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the digital world On the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) the House of Lords will debate the impact of the digital and online world on children and young people's Convention rights. Baroness Kidron will lead a debate about how children's rights can be protected and promoted in the digital age. Our joint briefing with NCB provides an overview of the key issues and evidence. Read more
• Legal advice on use of force in secure colleges CRAE sought legal advice on proposals for the use of force in secure colleges. We instructed solicitors at Bindmans LLP to seek independent legal advice from Martin Chamberlain QC and Max Schaefer on the lawfulness of allowing guards in secure colleges to use force in order to maintain "good order and discipline" in secure colleges. Read more
• House of Lords Report Stage Briefing on Criminal Justice and Courts Bill Briefing for the House of Lords during Report Stage of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill. The briefing focuses on Part 2 of the Bill, which contains proposals to introduce secure colleges as a form of youth custody. Read more