First Minister Responds to Consortium’s Letter on Human Rights Bill Delays

First Minister Responds to Consortium’s Letter on Human Rights Bill Delays

The First Minister has replied to our letter, signed by over 100 organisations, urging immediate progress on the delayed Scottish Human Rights Bill. While the response reaffirms the government’s intention to bring forward the Bill in the next parliamentary session, it fails to address key concerns about the lack of urgency and the missed opportunities to use existing powers to uphold rights.

Our focus now will be twofold: holding the government to account for gaps in how they are using current levers to protect rights, while continuing to push for the incorporation of all rights into law through the Human Rights Bill.

Government Response: Promises Without Action

The First Minister emphasised the government’s commitment to advancing human rights, pointing to the importance of “getting the legislation right” and strengthening public sector capability. However, the response stops short of outlining tangible steps to protect people’s rights today, leaving many in Scotland without the protections they urgently need.

The government cites the need for further engagement with civil society and public bodies as a reason for the delay, but this is increasingly difficult to reconcile with recent events. Disabled People-Led Organisations (DPOs), such as Glasgow Disability Alliance and Inclusion Scotland, have withdrawn their endorsement of the government’s draft Disability Equality Plan, citing a lack of meaningful progress after 20 months of engagement. This highlights a critical disconnect between government promises and its delivery on human rights.

A Priority Shift: Holding the Government Accountable

While the Human Rights Bill remains a vital step for Scotland, our priority is to ensure the government fully uses the tools it already has to protect people’s rights.

Recent failures include:

• Transport Justice: No action to provide free bus travel for people seeking asylum, limiting their access to vital services.
• Energy Poverty: Cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment, leaving vulnerable groups at greater risk during the cost-of-living crisis.
• Poverty and Homelessness: Rates remain alarmingly high, with insufficient measures in place to address these systemic issues.

These examples demonstrate that the government is not fully leveraging its existing powers to protect those most at risk. We will be seeking urgent discussions with the Scottish Government’s implementation and regulation team to address these failings and identify immediate solutions.

Incorporation Remains Key

Despite the immediate need to address gaps in current protections, we remain steadfast in pushing for the incorporation of all rights into law. Incorporating the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is vital to securing enforceable rights for all.

Our work will continue to focus on:

• Raising awareness of human rights through briefings, events, and campaigns.
• Advocating for incorporation in Scotland and the UK through collaboration with civil society.
• Engaging directly with the Equalities, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee to ensure rights remain central to parliamentary discussions.

The Path Forward

Our members have made it clear: the Human Rights Consortium Scotland must continue to lead the charge for a Scotland where human rights are not just promised but upheld. This means holding the government to account for its failures today while building momentum for the transformative change that incorporation will bring.

The government must act now to demonstrate that human rights are not merely an aspiration but a priority. Whether through delivering free bus travel, reversing harmful cuts, or tackling poverty, there are immediate steps they can take. At the same time, progress on the Human Rights Bill must be accelerated to ensure that Scotland’s future is one of fairness, equality, and dignity for all.

We will not stop fighting for a Scotland where rights are protected and enforced, whether through existing powers or future legislation. Scotland’s human rights future depends on action now.

Resources

• Read the response to the Consortium’s letter from the First Minister here.
• Read the letter from the Consortium and 100+ organisations to the First Minister here.