Scottish Human Rights Commission

People in Scotland continue to face racism and racial harassment, and recent events on our streets have made that reality impossible to ignore.

By ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the UK - and by extension, Scotland - committed to end racial discrimination in all its forms. Yet, our new report finds that the Scottish Government is not doing enough.

To find out more, read our follow up to the 2024 treaty monitoring report on our website:
https://ow.ly/7O6F50Ze7v2

How can we talk about human rights in a changing world?

Last week, our Head of Communications and Engagement Rosie McIntosh, joined colleagues from across Europe at the NHRI Academy.

The week focused on how to talk about human rights in the face of AI and disinformation, anti-human rights narratives and a cost of living crisis.

Rosie presented to the Academy on the value of telling stories.
📣 Sharing stories that emphasise our shared humanity
🦻 Listening, amplifying and validating experiences that lead to frustration
🗣️ Explaining human rights in a way that makes sense to our real lives

Read stories that we shared as part of our State of the Nation report:
https://www.scottishhumanrights.com/projects-and-programmes/state-of-the-nation/

We have provided feedback on the proposed refreshed National Performance Framework (NPF).

While the proposals contain some welcome elements, this response focuses on several areas of concern, particularly the treatment of human rights within the
framework.

Read it here:
https://ow.ly/SUue50Z7a6I

We are proud that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has singled out Scotland as an example of promising human rights practice.

Following a recommendation from the SHRC, the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee undertook proactive follow-up engagement with the Scottish Government on its international human rights commitments.

This practice has been called transformational by the OHCHR and is a great example of how to apply a human rights lens to parliament scrutiny work.

We hope to see this practice continue with the successor committee, as urged by the committee's legacy report.

Find out more on the UN website:
https://ow.ly/FQx750Z7gSS

We welcomed the opportunity to meet the newly elected MSPs yesterday at a reception with key organisations involved in supporting Scotland’s justice and legal sectors.

Members of the Scottish Parliament are the guarantors of the rights of their constituents and the people of Scotland.

This means that they have a responsibility to:
- uphold the rule of law
- protect human rights through legislation
- hold duty bearers to account when things go wrong.

As Scotland's independent National Human Rights Institution, we will continue to support parliament to understand and meet their obligations under human rights law, share with them what we know about human rights in Scotland - the gaps and progress - and provide them with expert analysis on the human rights implications of proposed law and policy.

Thank you to the Scottish Parliament for the invitation. We look forward to engaging with you further on the upcoming legislative programme building relationships with all MSPs across all elected parties and working with all on the upcoming legislative programme.

Today was the COCAB Conference for Citizens Advice Scotland and leaders of Scotland's local Citizens Advice Bureaux. Our Chair was asked to give a speech, alongside Kezia Dugdale of the University of Glasgow Centre for Public Policy.

In her speech, Professor Angela O'Hagan recognised that Scotland's Citizens Advice Bureaux are at the coalface of human rights protections. They are often the first place people turn when something has gone wrong with their human rights, and we rely on their insight, evidence, and connection to communities to do our work effectively.

Data collected from local Bureaux has informed our human rights monitoring, particularly our spotlights on economic social and cultural rights in the Highlands and Islands, and more recently in the South of Scotland.

Last year we partnered with the Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau to develop a plain English guide to human rights under the Scottish Prison Rules, which is now available in prisons across Scotland.

We look forward to continued collaboration with members of Citizens Advice Scotland to ensure that human rights are not just principles on paper, but something that people feel and experience in their everyday lives.

For more, read Professor O'Hagan's speech on our website:
https://ow.ly/wsKi50Z5jZV

Rosemary Agnew has been a Member of the Scottish Human Rights Commission since September 2025. How rights are applied and accessed in practice - particularly in relation to the under-represented or those experiencing vulnerability - is a thread running through all of Rosemary’s roles.

Prior to joining the SHRC, Rosemary was the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Scottish Information Commissioner, CEO of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, and held roles with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in England. She also sits on the World Bank’s Access to Information Appeals Board.

Her comprehensive leadership history means that Rosemary brings with her invaluable experience in raising awareness of rights, good human rights practice, and how to challenge constructively where practice falls below acceptable standards.

Rosemary has a keen interest in human rights in in relation to health and social care, places of detention, and how compliance with rights is embedded in governance and policy making.

Find out more about the Members of the Scottish Human Rights Commission on our website:
https://ow.ly/vjny50Z52Vg

We were in Manchester last week for the annual meeting of the four National Human Rights Institutions for the UK and Ireland.

These meetings are an opportunity to discuss shared human rights and equality issues, share learning and work together on solutions.

Thanks to Equality and Human Rights Commission for hosting and to all in attendance for another productive meeting.

Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Dr Claire Methven O’Brien has been a member of the Scottish Human Rights Commission since September 2022.

She has worked internationally as a human rights researcher, practitioner and advocate for more than 20 years. She is Reader (Associate Professor) in Law at the University of Dundee.

Find out more about the Members of the Scottish Human Rights Commission on our website:
https://ow.ly/GTWU50Z2fQQ