Jiaying Wang completed her Masters dissertation at the University of Edinburgh with support from Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) partners in the Observatory for Children’s Human Rights in Scotland and YouthLink Scotland and members. The focus of Jiaying’s dissertation is ‘The Role of Youth Work in the Realization of the Human Rights of Young People in Scotland –with a Focus on Young Refugees’.
In 2024, Scotland enshrined the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
into Scots law, demonstrating a commitment to and protection of children’s rights.
Simultaneously, Scotland has gradually implemented and refined the New Scots refugee
integration policy, further demonstrating its dedication to upholding children’s rights and
promoting the social inclusion of young refugees and asylum seekers. However, literature has
found that despite supportive and inclusive policies, the realization of the rights of young
people, including young refugees, remains limited in practice. In the Scottish context, youth
work is instrumental in supporting the realization of young people’s rights. Despite increasing
policy and practical attention to the empowering potential of youth work in recent years,
literature on how youth work can specifically empower and support the realization of the rights
of young refugees remains sparse. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Human Rights
Education (HRE) and critical pedagogy, this study, through a qualitative research method
consisting of semi-structured interviews and online surveys with youth workers, explores how
youth workers understand and support the realization of the rights of young people, including
young refugees. The findings indicate that youth work in Scotland provides a safe and inclusive
HRE environment for all young people, based on the principles of voluntary participation, trust
building, and empowerment. Youth work also promotes young people’s awareness of human
rights through imparting human rights knowledge and facilitating equal dialogue, thereby
supporting the realization of their human rights. For young refugees, youth work provides
targeted and vital support through rights-based, inclusive practices. Whilst positive, this study
also identifies structural challenges that may limit youth participation and the effectiveness of
youth work, particularly under-funding and limits on interagency cooperation. Through
analysis and discussion of practitioners’ perspectives, this study provides recommendations for
policymakers, practitioners, and future research, hoping to promote the development of youth
work in Scotland and safeguard the further realization of young people’s rights.
We're here to help with any research enquiries you have. If you are interested in hearing more about the research conducted by the students, contact our Senior Policy & Research Officer Dr Amy Calder.