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Participate in shaping Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights
www.scottishhumanrights.com/actionplan
Today the Scottish Human Rights Commission has published Getting it Right? Human Rights in Scotland, a report summarising the findings of a three year scoping project. Getting it Right? presents research on the realisation of internationally recognised human rights in Scotland. The report reveals that whilst Scotland has made notable progress, it can do better. Scotland has a relatively strong legal and institutional framework for human rights, and some examples of positive strategy and policy directions in service delivery. However, the actual outcomes for people are often inconsistent, and there are other ‘gaps’ which should and can be filled.
The report shows what appear to be some of the key gaps and good practices in Scotland’s legal, political, economic, social, technological, and environmental context, and across eight broad areas of life:
1. Dignity and care
2. Health
3. Where we live
4. Education and work
5. Private and family life
6. Safety and security
7. Living in detention
8. Access to justice and the right to an effective remedy
The publication coincides with the launch of a participation process to help shape Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights. The Action Plan will be a negotiated roadmap to address the gaps and replicate good practices in the realisation of human rights in Scotland. National Action Plans for Human Rights are recommended by the United Nations and Council of Europe and have led to advances in the realisation of human rights in Nordic and Commonwealth countries. The process in Scotland has received endorsements from the UN and Council of Europe Commissioners for Human Rights.
“National Action Plans can bring clarity to States in identifying the steps they must take to improve the promotion and protection of human rights, especially for the most vulnerable people. I am pleased to welcome the initiative taken by the Scottish Human Rights Commission to carry out this broad consultation."
Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
All of those with an interest in the promotion and protection of human rights in Scotland are invited to take part in an inclusive participation process in response to the following questions:
1. Based on the evidence presented in the report Getting it right? Human rights in Scotland, or your own experience, what do you consider to be the most urgent human rights issues which should be addressed in Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights?
2. What specific and achievable actions do you consider would best address the concerns you identify in your response to question 1?
You can read Getting it Right? and take part in shaping Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights on our website www.scottishhumanrights.com/actionplan
Next steps include a National InterAction (a facilitated negotiation of commitments) on International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012. There will be various other opportunities for involvement until the end of March 2013. This process of engagement will lead to the agreement of Scotland’s National Action Plan (‘SNAP’) later in 2013.
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Dr Alison Hosie
Research Officer
Scottish Human Rights Commission
T: 0141 243 2721/ 0131 240 2996
www.scottishhumanrights.com
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