HRCS Briefings, Reports and Responses

2023

• Joint Letter to Public Authority Chief Executives
  May 2023
  The Consortium and 19 other Scottish civil society organisations wrote to the chief executives of Scottish local authorities, NHS Boards and other bodies to urge them to prioritise human rights.
• Joint Briefing: The #RefugeeBanBill and Human Rights
  April 2023
  The Consortium and JustRight Scotland created this briefing for MSPs ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate about the ‘Illegal’ Migration Bill, to explain why the Bill is a human rights emergency.
• Joint Statement: The Illegal Migration Bill is “the Refugee Ban Bill” and why we must fight back
  March 2023
  The Consortium signed this joint statement, written by JustRight Scotland and the Scottish Refugee Council, to urge the Scottish Government to do everything they can to oppose the UK Government’s Illegal Migration Bill.
• Blog: The right to cultural life (and why it’s all about dignity, really)
  March 2023
  In March 2023, the Consortium and Art27 Scotland launched a new report, written by Dr Elaine Webster, Dr Lynsey Mitchell and Dr Diana Camps, on the right to cultural life in Scotland. This blog offers a reflective look at the paper from the perspective of putting human dignity at the heart of human rights.
• Briefing paper: Incorporating International Human Rights: The right to cultural life in Scotland
  March 2023
  This paper was commissioned by the Consortium and Art27 Scotland, and was written by Dr Elaine Webster, Dr Lynsey Mitchell and Dr Diana Camps. It discusses the incorporation of the right to cultural life in Scotland.

2022

• Joint Statement: UK’s Human Rights Report Card Marked: Joint Statement of UK Civil Society Organisations following the Universal Periodic Review of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 
  November 2022
  Following the assessment of the UK’s human rights performance by the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a group of over 80 civil society organisations, including the Consortium, signed a joint statement calling on the UK to accept and implement the recommendations made by the UPR.
• Evidence: Joint Committee on Human Rights, Legislative Scrutiny: Bill of Rights Bill 
  August 2022
  The Consortium submitted evidence to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, which is carrying out legislative scrutiny on the proposed ‘Bill of Rights’ Bill, expressing our dismay at the UK Government’s plan to replace the Human Rights Act with new, regressive legislation.
• Consultation Response: Scottish Mental Health Law Review Additional Proposals
  July 2022
  The Consortium has submitted a response to the Scottish Mental Health Law Review on Additional Proposals, strongly supporting the proposal to improve access to independent advocacy for people affected by mental health issues.
• Consultation Response: Human Rights Act Reform
  March 2022
  The Consortium has submitted a joint response to the UK Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the Human Rights Act, firmly rejecting the proposals. The response was signed by 46 Scottish civil society organisations.
  
• Consultation Response: Scottish Court Fees 2022-2025
  March 2022
  This joint response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on court fees was written with the Scottish Association of Law Centres. It states that court fees should not be charged, to ensure that everyone can realise their right to access to justice.
• Capacity Review of Scottish Civil Society on Human Rights
  January 2022
  This Review, written by Mhairi Snowden of the Consortium and Kate Nevens and Ellie Hutchinson from the collective, explored questions around the ways and extent to which organisations use human rights in what they do, and what would help them to engage with human rights more.

2021

• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The Right to an Adequate Standard of Living
  November 2021
  This briefing by Dr Kasey McCall-Smith explores the right to an adequate standard of living; what it entails, the key treaties which protect it, and how it could be incorporated into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The Right to Health
  November 2021
  This briefing by Dr Kasey McCall-Smith explores the right to health; what it entails, the key treaties which protect it, and how it could be incorporated into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The Right to Take Part in Cultural Life
  November 2021
  This briefing by Dr Kasey McCall-Smith explores the right to take part in cultural life; what it entails, the key treaties which protect it, and how it could be incorporated into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The Right to Social Security
  November 2021
  This briefing by Dr Kasey McCall-Smith explores the right to social security; what it entails, the key treaties which protect it, and how it could be incorporated into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
  November 2021
  This briefing by Professor Nicole Busby examines the key provisions of CEDAW, and the potential impact of its incorporation into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
  November 2021
  This briefing by Professor Nicole Busby examines the key provisions of ICERD, and the potential impact of its incorporation into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
  November 2021
  This briefing by Professor Nicole Busby examines the key provisions of the CRPD, and the potential impact of its incorporation into Scots law.
• Incorporation of International Human Rights Briefing Series: The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
  November 2021
  This briefing by Professor Nicole Busby examines the key provisions of ICESCR, and the potential impact of its incorporation into Scots law.
• Continuity Act – Policy Statement and Annual Report: Views from the Human Rights Consortium Scotland
  November 2021
  This consultation response concerns the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 and asks for clarification of how the Scottish Government would use new powers to ‘keep pace’ with developments in human rights, equality and environmental protection coming from the European Union.
• Human Rights For All: Some recommendations for the Scottish Human Rights Bill on protecting migrants’ human rights
  October 2021
  This report addresses how Scotland’s new human rights bill could protect and promote migrants’ rights. It was written in partnership with PKAVS, Scottish Refugee Council, Forth Valley Migrant Support Network, Migrant Voice, JustRight Scotland, Amnesty Scotland, Citizens Rights Project and BEMIS.
  
• Human Rights for All: A Legal Analysis of Economic and Social Rights of Migrants in Scotland – by JustRight Scotland  October 2021   From 2020-2021, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation enabled the Human Rights Consortium Scotland to explore collaborations between human rights and migration sectors around the upcoming enhanced Scottish human rights framework. As part of this project, the Consortium commissioned JustRight Scotland to carry out this legal analysis to increase clarity and understanding of current law around migrants’ economic and social rights in Scotland.

• Incorporating International Human Rights: How the human right to a healthy environment advances the rights of disabled people
  September 2021
  This joint briefing from Environmental Rights Centre Scotland (ERCS) and Inclusion Scotland explores the relationship between environmental and disabled people’s rights, and how incorporation of international human rights treaties into Scots law would advance them both.
• How the human right to a healthy environment advances our right to health
  September 2021
  This briefing, from Environmental Rights Centre Scotland (ERCS) explores the relationship between environmental rights and the right to health, and how incorporation of international human rights treaties into Scots law would advance them both.
• The relationship between the human right to a healthy environment and the right to food
  September 2021
  This briefing, from Environmental Rights Centre Scotland (ERCS) with input from Nourish Scotland, explores the relationship between environmental rights and the right to food, and how incorporation of international human rights treaties into Scots law would advance them both.
• Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee: Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022/23, submission from Human Rights Consortium Scotland
  September 2021
  This consultation response was sent to the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee to aid in their scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s 2022-23 budget. It calls for increased funding to implement an effective human rights framework.
• Human Rights and Devolution: Devolution as a Vehicle for Human Rights Protection and Progress
  September 2021
  This briefing from Dr Katie Boyle and Professor Nicole Busby provides a detailed overview of human rights and devolution in practice, and examines the challenges and opportunities posed by the erosion or enhancement of devolution.
• Views on the End Conversion Therapy petition: Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Consultation
  August 2021
  This joint consultation response was sent to the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, and fully supported the aim of petition PE1817 to prohibit the practice of “conversion therapy” in Scotland.
• Delivering Human Rights in Scotland During COVID-19: A 2020 Survey of Public Authorities
  May 2021
  A joint report from the Human Rights Consortium Scotland and Amnesty International, which found that most public authorities could not provide evidence of human rights-based decision-making in their response to COVID-19, based on a survey which covered 48 public authorities; all 32 local authorities, all 14 Scottish health boards, Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service.
• Independent Human Rights Review: Evidence from Human Rights Consortium Scotland 
  March 2021
  This consultation response was sent directly to the UK Government’s Independent Human Rights Act Review Panel, and recommended that the panel makes no recommendations which would weaken the Human Rights Act.
• Joint Committee on Human Rights: Evidence on the Government’s Independent Human Rights Act Review
  March 2021
  This response to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights strongly recommended that no changes should be made to the Human Rights Act which would result in it having any less ‘teeth’, impact and effectiveness in protecting individuals, on law and policy, and on improving public services. It was supported by 19 member organisations
• Bold and fearless: Towards an independent human rights funding agenda for Scotland
  March 2021
  Throughout 2020, with Corra, Making Rights Real and Human Rights Consortium Scotland have been creating space for conversations around the role of independent funding in strengthening human rights in Scotland. This report captures insights and themes gathered from these conversations, including from podcasts, round tables and an event held in November 2020.
• Human Rights and Devolution: The Independent Review of the Human Rights Act: Implications for Scotland
  February 2021
  In this briefing written for the Civil Society Brexit Project, Professor Nicole Busby outlines the potential implications of the UK Government’s Independent Review of the Human Rights Act for human rights protection in Scotland.

2020

• Human Rights and Devolution: Understanding the role of judicial review in Scotland and the consequences of the independent review of administrative law
  December 2020
  Dr Katie Boyle writes for the Civil Society Brexit Project, explaining that proposed reforms to the Judicial Review process have serious implications for human rights protection in Scotland and across the UK.
• Proposed Right to Food (Scotland) Bill: Consultation Response
  September 2020
  This response was submitted to a consultation on a Private Members Bill to enshrine the right to food in Scots law. The Consortium was fully supportive of the aims of the Bill.
• UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Submission to the Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee
  August 2020
  This submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee welcomed the Continuity Bill, and recommended improvements to ensure that Scotland continues to keep pace with European Union developments in human rights, following exit from the European Union.
• Submission to Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee Inquiry: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Equalities and Human Rights
  May 2020
  This submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee was supported by a coalition of 30 civil society organisations, and raised urgent concerns around the impact of COVID-19 on human rights.
• Good Food Nation Proposals for Legislation: Consultation Response
  March 2020
  This response was submitted to a consultation on the Scottish Government’s Good Food Nation legislation, and was supportive of measures to strengthen the right to food in Scotland.

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

• HRCS letter to John Finnie MSP about his proposed bill on equal protection for children
  August 2017
  John Finnie MSP held a consultation on a Private Members Bill to give equal protection to children.  This is a big human rights issue and the HRCS wrote a letter to john Finnie MSP to strongly support the introduction of the Bill.
• HRCS Summary Report – Making Change Happen: Using the courts to make rights a reality
  July 2017
  This is a summary of the key issues raised by speakers and participants at an event around strategic litigation, organised by the HRCS and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, held in Edinburgh on 1st June 2017.
• HRCS Summary: The Brexit Process
  April 2017
  This short briefing provides an overview of the Brexit process, drawn from presentations and discussion at the HRCS Seminar on ‘Brexit and its implications for rights’ held on 27th March 2017.
• Rights at Risk: A collection of Scottish civil society perspectives on the potential impact of Brexit
  March 2017
  This report is a collection of contributions from civil society experts in Scotland. Each chapter was written in early 2017 and outlines the organisation’s key concerns around the ways in which Brexit may affect the everyday, essential rights of those that they work with. By drawing on the expertise and on-the-ground insight of each of these organisations, it is hoped that this report provides a useful outline of the task before us, and before the Scottish and UK Governments, if we are to protect and promote a human rights based society in a post-Brexit Scotland.
• HRCS Summary: Key links and publications from HRCS Members’ Roundtable 21st February 2017
  February 2017
  This roundtable meeting included short presentations from a number of HRCS member organisations about their current work related to human rights. This summary provides links to some of the publications and organisations that were highlighted.

2015

• What next for Human Rights: HRCS 2015 Annual Conference
  June 2015
  Presentations from civil society and Alex Neil MSP, (then) Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for human rights, together with summary of workshops.