Human Rights Consortium Scotland

On #HumanRightsDay in #Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 we protest 🪧 and celebrate solidarity x resistance 🫶🏽 and nourish ourselves with poetry, singalongs and warm, hearty soup 🤎 #BringBackTheBill #RightToFood #AllOurRights JustRight Scotland, Amnesty International UK, Human Rights Consortium Scotland, Nourish Scotland, The Poverty Alliance, Maryhill Integration Network, Emma Hutton, Making Right Real

📣 Yesterday was a truly insightful and inspirational day as we came together with community groups, grassroots organisations, and third sector organisations to celebrate #HumanRightsDay in Scotland 🙌 From marching to the Scottish Parliament 🏛️ and rallying to #BringBackTheBill 📢, to celebrating in solidarity despite a challenging year for all, we shared hope that by working together, we can create the change our communities need ✊ We were deeply inspired by: 💡 The enthusiasm of our panellists ⚖️ The unwavering commitment to overcoming barriers and defending our rights 🗣️ The powerful calls to action from our JustCitizens group, leading a coalition of organisations in Scotland calling on the Scottish Government for: ✅ Genuine community involvement in policymaking ✅ Clear accountability for government promises 🔍 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eUWFUGVK Even in the face of a cost-of-living crisis, setbacks in human rights advocacy, and challenges such as access to justice and climate change impacts, our communities continue to show incredible resilience and strength 🤝 🤔 Yesterday was also a day of reflection - a reminder of the crucial role human rights defenders play in our society. #OurRightsOurFuture #HumanRightsDay #Scotland #CelebratingSolidarity #HumanRights Amnesty International UK Human Rights Consortium Scotland Making Rights Real

Happy Human Rights Day! The Consortium is delighted to announce we have received funding from the Independent Human Rights Fund for Scotland. This support will empower us to continue our work in defending human rights, particularly for those most at risk in Scotland. The grants, made possible by a partnership of seven funders, will allow HRCS and 14 other organisations to challenge power structures and drive meaningful change. This participatory funding process ensures that those with lived experience of human rights barriers are at the heart of decision-making.

Sign our Collaborative Draft Report on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights before January 9 at 5:00pm! We’re excited to share our draft report on the UK’s implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights, which will be submitted to the UN Committee on CESCR in early 2025. This draft report is the result of collaboration with Scottish civil society organisations and focuses on key human rights issues raised in the CESCR’s List of Issues (Spring 2023): 👉 Climate change 👉 Child poverty 👉 Gender & racial equality 👉 Asylum rights 👉 Employment The recommendations in this draft aim to address critical gaps and promote stronger protections for economic, social, and cultural rights across the UK. We are now inviting organisations to sign on to the draft report and its recommendations. Adding your organisation’s name will amplify civil society’s voice in the UN’s review process and help drive meaningful change. Sign the form here: https://lnkd.in/eRmXG34C Read the draft in full here:

This #HumanRightsDay, the Commission has presented its first annual State of the Nation report to Parliament. The report is a snapshot of how human rights are being experienced in Scotland, focusing this year on civil and political rights. It provides evidence to support those with accountability for human rights to make progress and improve people's lives. Find out more: https://ow.ly/1j4B50Uo6NO

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📢 Join the #BringBackTheBill Human Rights Day of Action – 10 December 2024 This Human Rights Day, organisations across Scotland will unite at the Scottish Parliament to demand the reintroduction of the Scottish Human Rights Bill. This landmark legislation would embed vital rights into Scots law, ensuring protections for everyone, but also specifically for: 🛡️ Women ♿ Disabled people 🌍 Racial minorities It’s about securing the right to adequate living standards, health, education, fair work, and social security for everyone. We’re calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise these protections. Will you stand with us? 📅 When: Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 10:00–14:00 GMT 📍 Where: Scottish Parliament Building, Edinburgh This is a chance for organisations, community groups, grassroots movements, students, and individuals to make your voice heard. 🔗 Find out more and RSVP via Eventbrite: https://lnkd.in/eZGHW5mw Let’s #BringBackTheBill and make human rights the cornerstone of Scotland’s future! Nourish Scotland JustRight Scotland

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reflect on the fact that while disabled people in Scotland have the same human rights as everyone else, these rights are not always fully realised. Discrimination, inaccessible services, buildings, and transport, as well as a lack of understanding among service providers, can lead to rights being denied. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted this starkly. Inclusion Scotland's Rights at Risk research details how the human rights of disabled people were disproportionately impacted during this time. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities outlines the actions required to ensure that disabled people enjoy their full human rights. It is vital that we take these obligations seriously. We will continue to work with disabled persons organisations to push decision-makers to develop effective and crucial policies that ensure equity of realisation of #AllOurRights.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission's latest report "Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands" lays bare the urgent challenges facing communities in the Highlands and Islands. 📉 Key stats: 👉 High levels of homelessness, with people forced to live in caravans, pods, or sofa-surfing. 👉 Hunger persists, with many relying on food support due to unaffordable costs. 👉 In some areas, pregnant women must travel over 120 miles for care, risking their safety and health. 👉 Critical gaps in healthcare, including access to GPs, sexual and reproductive health services, mental health support, and dentistry. This isn’t just a failure in services—these are violations of basic human rights. 🔑 Key recommendations: 1️⃣ Eradicate rooflessness and hunger. 2️⃣ Ensure universal access to healthcare, particularly sexual and reproductive health services. 3️⃣ Invest in sustainable, human rights-based housing solutions. 4️⃣ Improve transportation networks to ensure access to essential services. The report also includes a monitoring framework to help duty bearers measure and improve their performance in delivering rights. With the Human Rights Bill delayed until 2026, it’s more critical than ever to protect economic, social, and cultural rights in Scotland. 📖 Read the report and its recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/ePX8dGxu

Blue skies ahead? 🩵☁️ The Human Rights Consortium Scotland has decided to transition from the platform of X to Bluesky in line with our principles. As X is currently our largest platform with the widest audience, we will continue posting there throughout the transition phase. Give us a follow if you've also made the switch: https://lnkd.in/eBmDZNfK And for long-form updates, our LinkedIn page and newsletter will keep you right. Sign up to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/eqrHrDZa