Consortium Urges UN Human Rights Committee to give recommendations to UK and Scottish Governments
Consortium Urges UN Human Rights Committee to give recommendations to UK and Scottish Governments
Our senior policy officer Lucy is in Geneva on 11th March 2024, to speak with the United Nations Human Rights Committee as they review the UK’s record on human rights.
In 1976, the United Kingdom ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), committing to upholding fundamental civil and political rights. These rights are things like the freedom to speak your mind, the right to be treated fairly, and the ability to participate in elections.
The UN Human Rights Committee regularly checks to make sure countries are following the rules in the treaty. The UK is currently at Stage 4, where civil society stakeholders submitted reports ahead of the Committee's examination in person. Click here to read our report, with contributions from JustRight Scotland, CEMVO Scotland, Age Scotland, The Equality Network, Scottish Youth Parliament, Howard League Scotland, Humanist Society Scotland, Making Rights Real, Inclusion Scotland and Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD).
Civil society organisations are given 2 minutes to address the Committee on the basis of their report. Lucy will use her 2 minutes to address four topics in the report, listed below:
1. Hate Crimes Against Specific Groups: We are witnessing a disturbing surge in hate crimes in Scotland, with a staggering 67% increase in incidents targeting the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade. Additionally, individuals with learning disabilities are reporting a rise in disability-aggravated hate crimes. Racism and bullying persist in schools, while Gypsy Traveller communities face obstacles in reporting hate crimes. We urgently call upon the Scottish Government to enhance reporting mechanisms, raise awareness in educational and law enforcement settings, and address systemic failures in responding to hate crimes.
2. Gender Recognition Reform: In 2023, the Scottish Parliament passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, a significant step towards affirming the rights of trans and non-binary people. However, the UK Government's obstruction of the Bill's enactment has caused immense disappointment and jeopardises the human rights of these communities. We implore the Scottish Government to exhaust all avenues for passing gender recognition reform and call on the UK Government to reconsider its position.
3. Legal Aid Reform: Access to justice remains a significant challenge for those on low incomes in Scotland, as the legal aid system crumbles, leaving many without local access to legal assistance. While we welcome the Scottish Government's plans to incorporate enforceable human rights into law, this must be accompanied by comprehensive legal aid reform. We urge the Scottish Government to commit to a clear timeline for legal aid reform, ensuring that justice is accessible to all.
4. Human Rights Issues in Prisons: Scotland's prisons are grappling with severe human rights issues, including high numbers of deaths in custody, delayed Fatal Accident Inquiries, and overcrowded facilities. A notable 24% of individuals in Scottish prisons are on remand, contributing to a nearly 40% surge in self-harm incidents over the past year. Transparent information on the Scottish Government's initiatives to address these issues is crucial for accountability and progress.
But what happens next? The UK and Scottish governments have also sent out delegates to Geneva, as part of the “state review” which will take place during the rest of the week. Following this, the Committee will issue a list of recommendations for the UK Government to implement, to improve civil and political rights across the UK.
Click here to read Lucy's statement to the Committee
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