Consortium Responds to Scottish Labour’s Policy Forum Consultation
Consortium Responds to Scottish Labour’s Policy Forum Consultation
The Human Rights Consortium Scotland (HRCS) has published a new policy briefing outlining bold, practical actions an incoming Scottish Labour government could take to tackle poverty, support communities, and embed human rights at the heart of governance.
As Scotland’s leading human rights network, HRCS has used this consultation to urge Scottish Labour, or indeed any other opposition party, to prioritise:
- The incorporation of international human rights standards through the Scottish Human Rights Bill, including enforceable rights to housing, healthcare, and an adequate standard of living.
- Reform of the civil legal aid system to ensure everyone in Scotland has equal access to justice, particularly in rural areas where “legal aid deserts” are emerging.
- Embedding a human rights-based approach in budgeting and public services to address systemic inequality.
The briefing also identifies ways for Scottish Labour or a potential new government to leverage devolved powers to reduce poverty and tackle the cost-of-living crisis immediately, alongside strategies for empowering local government to support essential services and asylum seekers in remote and rural areas.
Click here to read the response to Scottish Labour in full.