UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Reviews Scotland
UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Reviews Scotland
This week, (beginning 12th August 2024) Scotland’s ongoing efforts to tackle racial discrimination were in the spotlight at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Both the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and CEMVO Scotland presented critical evidence, offering a candid assessment of the current state of affairs for ethnic minority communities in Scotland.
Resources on the evidence presented by both organisations can be found at the bottom of this page.
Reflecting on Progress
The SHRC acknowledged that while Scotland has made some progress in becoming an anti-racist nation, significant challenges remain. They pointed out gaps between the government’s intentions and the everyday realities faced by ethnic minority communities.
In particular, they highlighted issues such as inadequate data collection, the lasting effects of historical injustices, and the negative impact of immigration policies, all of which continue to marginalise many.
A central recommendation from the SHRC was the need to incorporate international human rights standards into Scots Law. Doing so could provide greater protection for those facing racial discrimination and help drive cultural change within public institutions.
CEMVO Scotland painted a similar picture. They expressed deep concern over the gap between policy and practice, noting that despite various policies and strategies designed to protect human rights for ethnic minority communities, meaningful change on the ground has been limited. They emphasised that the consistent lack of implementation and accountability is a serious issue that needs urgent attention.
Below is a list of key areas of concern, which both SHRC and CEMVO raised with the Committee. Each concern is directed as a UK or Scottish government request for the UN to ask of the UK state.
Key Areas of Concern
- Employment: Both SHRC and CEMVO Scotland stressed that racism in the workplace remains a significant problem, often going unreported due to ineffective complaint processes and fear of retaliation. They called for stronger mechanisms to collect intersectional data and ensure effective routes to redress.
- Healthcare: CEMVO Scotland pointed to the need for better complaints procedures that can capture both overt and covert racism in healthcare settings. They also highlighted the importance of improving access to services and increasing the availability of translators to support ethnic minority communities.
- Hate Crime: With race-related hate crimes on the rise, both organisations called for enhanced data collection, better support for victims, and a fully resourced Hate Crime Delivery Plan to address this alarming trend.
- Education: Addressing racially motivated bullying in schools was another critical area of concern. CEMVO Scotland urged the Scottish Government to work closely with stakeholders to implement strong anti-racism measures in education.
- Poverty: CEMVO Scotland also emphasised the need for targeted campaigns to raise awareness of social security benefits among ethnic minority communities and to mainstream anti-racism training across social security service delivery.
Looking Ahead
Both SHRC and CEMVO Scotland made it clear that the Scottish Government and other stakeholders must turn their commitments into real, measurable change. They stressed the importance of accountability, effective implementation of policies, and genuine engagement with ethnic minority communities. Tackling systemic racism will require a comprehensive approach that includes legislative reform, improved data collection, targeted interventions in education and healthcare, and robust support for victims of hate crimes.
In summary, while Scotland has made progress in recognising and addressing racial discrimination, the insights shared by SHRC and CEMVO Scotland highlight that there is still much work to be done.
By taking these recommendations to heart, Scotland can strengthen its commitment to human rights and serve as a model of inclusivity and justice on the global stage.
Resources
- SHRC executive summary to the CERD
- CEMVO report to the CERD
- SHRC oral evidence to the CERD committee (from 15:27 – 18:04)
- SHRC written statement to the CERD committee
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