Human rights organisations urge First Minister to prioritise Human Rights Bill and Cabinet leadership

Human rights organisations urge First Minister to prioritise Human Rights Bill and Cabinet leadership

The Consortium, along with a coalition of civil society organisations, have written to the new First Minister, calling for urgent action to strengthen human rights protections across Scotland.

In a joint letter sent on 19 May 2026, HRCS, alongside 42 partner organisations, welcomed the First Minister to office and set out key priorities for the new Parliament.

Representing our broad membership, the Consortium highlighted Scotland’s leadership in human rights, while emphasising that further action is now needed to meet growing challenges and ensure everyone can realise their rights in practice.

Two key priorities for the new Parliament

The letter sets out two central asks for the Scottish Government:

1. Deliver the Scottish Human Rights Bill

HRCS and its members have called on the First Minister to:

• Include the Scottish Human Rights Bill in the first Programme for Government
• Introduce the Bill within the first year of the new Parliament

The proposed Bill would incorporate key international human rights treaties into Scots law, alongside a new right to a healthy environment. We argue that this legislation would be transformative in strengthening protections, particularly for people experiencing poverty, discrimination and exclusion.

2. Create a Cabinet Minister for Human Rights

The letter also calls for the establishment of a dedicated Cabinet Minister for Human Rights, with responsibility for leading and coordinating human rights policy across government.

The Consortium emphasises that human rights are too often subsumed within broader equalities portfolios, and that a dedicated ministerial role would provide the focus, visibility and leadership needed to drive progress.

Strengthening Scotland’s human rights leadership

While recognising Scotland’s achievements to date, including incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ongoing human rights action planning, we stress that momentum must now be maintained.

The coalition highlights that human rights are increasingly misunderstood and that many people feel disconnected from existing frameworks. Against this backdrop, advancing incorporation through the Human Rights Bill and strengthening political leadership are seen as essential next steps.

As always, HRCS has offered to work closely with the Scottish Government and partners to support the development and delivery of these commitments.

As Scotland enters a new parliamentary term, the letter signals a strong and unified call from civil society to embed human rights at the heart of decision-making, ensuring that everyone in Scotland can access justice, dignity and equality.

Download the full letter here.