‘Human Rights Bill promise must be delivered’ say civil society coalition

‘Human Rights Bill promise must be delivered’ say civil society coalition

120 charities, civil society organisations and academics have written to John Swinney urging him to keep the SNP’s manifesto promise to introduce a flagship Human Rights Bill.

In the letter to the First Minister, leading campaigning organisations - including Amnesty International, Human Rights Consortium Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, Shelter Scotland and the Poverty Alliance - said that the legislation will be key to achieving the First Minister’s priorities, including his stated mission of tackling child poverty.

The letter appeals to the First Minister: “As you know, the task before you is vast and urgent. Children across Scotland are going hungry as families are pulled deeper into poverty, more households than ever before are stuck in temporary accommodation for months on end, disabled and older people are being refused the social care support that they desperately need, and some Scots can’t access the medical care they have a right to. These are just some of the human rights emergencies being experienced by people in Scotland today.”

The Bill - which will enshrine UN treaties and strong legal protections for everyday rights like access to safe housing, food and the best standard of health into Scots law - was due to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament this month. The campaigners have warned it must not be delayed.

Director of the Human Rights Consortium Scotland Mhairi Snowden said Scotland’s civil society and people affected by poverty and inequality have poured effort into shaping the plans:

“For years many of us have given massive time and resource to ensuring international rights are incorporated into law in Scotland in a way that will truly transform the way people access their fundamental rights. We have been involved in Scottish Government working groups, and there have been three Lived Experience Boards where individuals have given their time to help shape the plans. Those people especially deserve to see the Scottish Government deliver on bringing forward a Bill very soon.”

Neil Cowan, Scotland Programme Director for Amnesty International UK added:

“The First Minister has spoken in recent days about prioritising tackling child poverty and social inequality. Those are really welcome and encouraging words. But what people in communities across Scotland need are those words to be transformed into action. Putting human rights at the heart of the government’s agenda, by prioritising the Human Rights Bill, would help to do just that. We urge the First Minister and his new Cabinet to push on with the Bill and help to create the more just Scotland that we all want to see.”

Click here to read the letter in full

The letter was supported by the following:

Amnesty International
Human Rights Consortium Scotland
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
Art27 Scotland
Welfare Scotland
The National Autistic Taskforce
The Hong Kong Scots
Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland
Inclusion Scotland
Making Rights Real
Scottish Care
Marie Curie
C-Change Scotland
Include Me
Broke Not Broken
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
MySelf-Management
Scottish Women's Aid
Play Scotland
African Caribbean Women's Association (ACWA) Scotland
Zero Tolerance
Faith in Older People
Mornay Way Tenants & Residents Association
Liz Richardson, member of Human Rights Bill Lived Experience Board
Glasgow Disability Alliance
North Highland Women's Wellbeing Group
Doors Academy SCIO
Scottish Women's Budget Group
Coalition of Carers in Scotland
Brown Owl Legal Support
Maxwellton Court Tenant Association
Shopmobility Renfrewshire
Transition Edinburgh
VOICES ADFOCAD
Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality
Community Transport Association
Welsh Centre for International Affairs
Scottish Child Law Centre
Just Fair
Bridges Programmes
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
Women's Platform
Creative Lives
Who Cares? Scotland
Carers Trust Scotland
Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance
B healthy together
Social Benefits Consortium CIC
Parenting Across Scotland
Families Outside
Equate Scotland
René Cassin, the Jewish voice for human rights
Feniks
Close the Gap
Edinburgh Community Food
Disability Equality Scotland
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
Scottish Recovery Consortium
Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS)
Howard League Scotland
Liberty
See Me
Age Scotland
Carers Scotland
VoiceAbility
Waverley Care
Generations Working Together
JustRight Scotland
Scottish Drugs Forum
Engender
Autism Rights Group Highland
Women's Support Project (Rights & Choices)
Global Justice Now
Money Advice Scotland
One Parent Families Scotland
Independent Advocacy Perth & Kinross
LGBT Youth Scotland
Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN)
The Scottish Women's Convention
Glasgow Human Rights Network
RNIB Scotland
ASH Scotland
SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health)
Scottish Community Alliance
Scottish Youth Parliament
East Ayrshire Advocacy Services
Children in Scotland
Equality Network
Scottish Women’s Aid
Empower Women for Change
Psychiatric Rights Scotland
Mary Nnamani, Individual Human Rights Defender
Shelter Scotland
David Scott, Postdoctoral Research Associate in International Law and Governance,
University of Glasgow
The Poverty Alliance
THRE (Third Sector Human Rights and Equalities)
GCVS (Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector)
Douglas Jack, Teaching Fellow, University of Strathclyde.
Who Cares? Scotland
Lorna Walker, Member of Human Rights Bill Lived Experience Board
SCLD
Outside the Box
CAPS Independent Advocacy
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
Justice Scotland
Koldo Casla, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex
Amanda Foster, Member of Human Rights Bill Lived Experience Board
Advocacy Highland
Grassmarket Community Project
Ken Maclennan, Member of Human Rights Bill Lived Experience Board
Alcohol Focus Scotland
Forth Valley Migrant Support Network
CEMVO Scotland
Migrant Voice
Deaf Links
Dr Amanda Cahill-Ripley, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Liverpool
Aidan Flegg, Researcher, University of Glasgow
Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)
Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire
Campaign for Freedom of Information Scotland
Maryhill Integration Network
LEAP Sports Scotland
TSI Scotland Network
The Young Women’s Movement
Ayr Housing Aid Centre