With thanks from the Scottish Human Rights Commission;
“I am delighted to share with you the Commission’s Annual Report for 2017-18, which has been laid at the Scottish Parliament today.
The Commission will mark its tenth anniversary as Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution in December. As we approach this landmark, we have a strong sense of sustained momentum behind our work to promote and protect the human rights of everyone in Scotland. This Annual Report, covering the period to March 2018, details a range of significant and notable developments in the laws, policies and practices that people need in order to fully enjoy their rights. Some key examples include:
· SNAP (Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights) reached the end of its first four year cycle, with over 1,000 people taking part in a national conversation about priorities for its second phase. SNAP continues to be seen as a model of best practice in advancing human rights internationally.
· The First Minister’s Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership emerged as a response to long-standing calls by the Commission for action to incorporate a broader range of international human rights into Scotland’s domestic laws.
· Human rights were embedded into Scotland’s new prison inspection standards and national care standards, and progress was made with embedding human rights into the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.
· Our Leith-based pilot project, Housing Rights in Practice, yielded improvements in housing conditions for local residents after sustained engagement with their local authority on the human rights issues at stake. The Commission is now considering how best to scale up the impact of this pilot project.
Our work this year took place in the context of continued Brexit negotiations, and corresponding uncertainty over the exact nature of the impact of the UK’s departure from the European Union on people’s rights in Scotland. While we pushed for continued progression on human rights laws, policies and practice, we also engaged with government and others on the risks and dangers of regression as a result of Brexit, and will continue to do so.
The period ahead is a crucial time for the continued defence and sustained progression of human rights in Scotland. We look forward to continuing our work with you and all of our stakeholders to both meet the challenges and maximise the opportunities that lie ahead.”
