HRCS Briefings, Reports and Responses

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

  • Extend legal aid to NGO and group cases
    September 2019
    Cases taken by groups and NGOs are important to enforcing human rights law. However, even where cases can be taken, often the cost is too much. The Consortium responded to the review of legal aid to ask that legal aid be available to groups and NGOs taking cases, not only individuals.
  • Incorporation of the UNCRC directly in Scots law
    August 2019
    The Scottish Government has committed to ‘gold standard’ incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law.  The Consortium submitted a consultation response highlighting what is needed for strong and effective incorporation. We supported the draft Bill produced by an expert advisory group convened by Together and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland.
  • Public sector funding for equalities and human rights
    August 2019
    The Scottish Parliament Equality and Human Rights Committee asked for evidence to guide their budget scrutiny around public sector of the third sector aimed at promoting equality and human rights. The Consortium responded from our members’ experience around the all-too-common gap between rhetoric and policy, and the budget allocated to make them a reality on the ground.
  • Submission to UN Committee against Torture
    April 2019
    This submission is based on a collation of concerns from Consortium members, including prison overcrowding, segregation of prisoners, destitution of asylum seekers and the need for therapeutic support for victims of torture living in Scotland.
  • Summary paper: What types of support do Human Rights Defenders need?
    January 2019
    An overview of some of the key kinds of support that many Human Rights Defenders need and want, both in Scotland and in other countries.  This draws on discussion at a Consortium roundtable held in November 2018.

2018

  • Overcoming Barriers to Public Interest Litigation in Scotland
    November 2018
    This report explores why there is a lack of strategic court action in Scotland and suggests recommendations to address this.  It suggests key barriers are: poor access to information about court cases; limitations to who can take a case to court; short time-limits for taking cases; inhibitive costs and financial risk; and a limited culture of using public interest litigation to bring change.

2017

2015

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