The Scottish Parliament recently enshrined the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots Law in a move that will prove to be game-changing for generations to come.

The UNCRC, which applies to everyone below the age of 18, is taught in schools to demonstrate to children what life would look like for them in a just and equal world.

Rights to do with expression, health and well-being and the right to have your opinion heard are some of the most well-known within the education system.

The move to enshrine these rights into law brings a just and equal world for children in Scotland one step closer.

Schools, local authorities and employers will have to bear the UNCRC in mind when making decisions. This will give young people new protections when speaking up about mistreatment that they may face within organisations.

Often, young people feel as though they are nothing more than a number within a system, a vehicle by which schools boost their academic attainment or a cheap alternative within the labour market to keep the cogs of the economy in motion. This can lead to exploitation in many forms.

The UNCRC Act seeks to outlaw that exploitation and give children equal rights to their adult peers.

I fear that institutions within Scotland are not fully prepared for the change that this Act will bring.

For decision-makers who pride themselves on listening to young people, this Act ensures that they will have to do more than simply listen.

Whether they like it or not, Article 12 of the UNCRC (the right to be heard) will be the law of the land.

Young people seeking change should be embraced not side-lined.

The UNCRC Act embraces young people’s desire for change and makes them feel heard by the nation’s Parliament.

Despite the step in the right direction that this Act represents, there is still more work to be done.

Article 27 of the UNCRC states that no child should be disadvantaged. Enshrining the UNCRC into law means the Scottish Parliament has taken a strong stance against poverty.

However, this strong stance must be backed up by action by governments at all levels.

The Tele reported in June that ‘over 3,500 children are living in poverty in Inverclyde'. This means that there is a long way to go before all children in Inverclyde have access to their complete rights outlined by the UNCRC.

Whilst this Act may not feel as if it is making a tangible difference to the lives of children instantly, it still sends an important message.

Children in Scotland are entitled to nothing less than their rights under the law and their Parliament is willing to recognise that.

Martin Luther King Jr said: "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."

The incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots Law ensures that justice for many young people who need it is within their grasp. That is a cause that we all ought to celebrate.