Civil society coalition redoubles call for Human Rights Bill
Civil society coalition redoubles call for Human Rights Bill
A coalition of civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Consortium Scotland, have today ramped up their calls for the Scottish Government to commit to bringing forward its long-awaited Human Rights Bill, after the Scottish Government failed to provide assurance that the delayed Bill would be included in its upcoming Programme for Government.
The Bill, which was an SNP manifesto commitment at the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections, would enshrine UN treaties and strong protections for everyday rights like access to safe housing, food and the best standard of health into Scots law. Campaigners believe that it would be world-leading human rights legislation and could make fundamental human rights a reality for people across the country.
But fears have been growing since the Scottish Government failed to introduce the legislation to Holyrood in the first half of this year as expected. In May, 120 civil society organisations, charities and academics wrote to the new First Minister, John Swinney, calling on him to commit to bringing forward the Bill without any further delay, telling him:
“We understand the many competing issues facing you as First Minister, however the challenges that Scotland faces are the very same challenges that this Bill will help to address. Strengthening our NHS, tackling the housing emergency, building more empowered and powerful communities, improving social care, and stemming the rising tide of poverty; the Bill can help to achieve the more just Scotland we all want to see.”
Now, the Scottish Government has responded to that letter without confirming the Bill will be introduced as previously promised. In a response to the coalition’s letter, Shirley Anne Somerville MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice) stated that “the Scottish Government remains firmly committed to advancing human rights in Scotland and continues to recognise the importance of incorporation in building a stronger human rights culture across public service delivery”, but notably did not provide any commitment that the Bill would be included when the First Minister sets out his legislative programme next month.
Neil Cowan, Scotland Programme Director at Amnesty International, said:
“The First Minister has, from the beginning of his leadership, spoken about his mission of tackling child poverty and social inequality. Those have been welcome words, but what people in Scotland need is for those words to be turned into action.
The Human Rights Bill can – by ensuring that people can more easily claim and protect their rights - help to create the more just, healthier and stronger Scotland that all of us believe in. It is critical that the First Minister provides clarity that the Bill will go ahead as promised. To fail to do so would represent an enormous backwards step for human rights in Scotland. The Human Rights Bill is a promise that we cannot allow to be broken.”
Mhairi Snowden, Director of Human Rights Consortium Scotland, said:
“The Scottish Government’s reputation on human rights hangs in the balance. Thousands of people have given their precious time and expertise to help develop this Bill because it is such a vital step forwards for human rights, and precisely because it is a firm commitment by the Scottish Government. Now we are simply seeking reassurance that they will keep their word, and include it in the Programme for Government next month.”
Read the response from Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville here.
Read an article in the Daily Record about the letter