Scotland’s Civil Society Network to Defend and Promote Human Rights

Charlie’s Blog: HRCS’s Insights and Actions on Human Rights Mainstreaming in Scotland

Charlie’s Blog: HRCS’s Insights and Actions on Human Rights Mainstreaming in Scotland

2025 has already been a busy year for HRCS. We’ve recently submitted our report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This report reflects extensive discussions and engagement with our members and highlights key economic, cultural, and social human rights issues in Scotland. It captures the lingering effects of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and the Scottish Government’s decision not to move forward with the Scottish Human Rights Bill.

Interestingly, while the decision to pause the Bill was disappointing, it appears to have positively influenced the Scottish Government’s renewed focus on the Scottish National Action Plan on Human Rights (SNAP 2) and its equalities and human rights mainstreaming strategy. Both initiatives have gained in prominence and importance. While this does not fully mitigate the decision to stall the Bill, we welcome this renewed focus as a step in the right direction.

This month, HRCS hosted a webinar for members on the mainstreaming strategy consultation. Attendees found the Scottish Government’s presentation encouraging, particularly its recognition that mainstreaming has long lacked clarity, cohesion, and policy impact.

The proposed framework, which includes six key drivers, shows potential for embedding equality and human rights across the public sector. However, our members emphasised the need for action across all six drivers simultaneously to avoid gaps and missed opportunities.

Drawing on past examples, we urged the Government to reflect on what has and hasn’t worked in the past. A key theme throughout the discussion was intersectionality. Marginalised communities in Scotland have faced too many unfulfilled promises regarding equality and human rights. The success of the new Mainstreaming Strategy will require concerted action across all policy and service areas, including financial resources, to address entrenched inequalities and injustices.

Our members also highlighted the critical role of civil society and voluntary sector organisations in driving this work. We urged the Government to recognise and value their contributions more explicitly in the strategy.

We were encouraged by the Scottish Government’s commitment to addressing some of the issues we raised, reflecting on lessons learned, and doing things differently in the future. Their intention to develop senior leadership ownership, accountability, and a culture of responsibility for equality and human rights is a promising step forward.

Finally, we all agreed that much more needs to be done to sustain learning and capacity within organisations and to avoid the “Groundhog Day” nature of discussions on equality and human rights. HRCS will submit a response to the Mainstreaming Strategy Consultation, which will be open for co-signing, and we encourage our members to participate.

The Government has emphasised that responses do not need to address all 30 questions, so even answering one question is a valuable contribution. Alternatively, if you wish to provide a statement on the proposals at large, you can do so.

Next Steps

  1. Finalise and submit our response to the Scottish Government’s Mainstreaming Strategy Consultation.
  2. Encourage as many members as possible to respond to the consultation, even if only addressing one question.
  3. Continue to push for simultaneous action across all six drivers in the framework to ensure effective implementation.
  4. the importance of recognising and valuing the contributions of civil society and voluntary sector organisations.
  5. Track and hold the Government accountable for delivering on its commitments, particularly around leadership, accountability, and capacity-building.
  6. Work with members to ensure ongoing pressure for the Mainstreaming Strategy to translate into meaningful change for marginalised communities.

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