Scotland ‘should lead on human rights’
The Scottish Parliament should be an international leader in human rights, according to a Holyrood report.
The document, published by the equalities and human rights committee, outlines 40 recommendations aimed at bolstering the Parliament and MSPS’ roles as guarantors of human rights.
The committee viewed the protection of human rights as a key issue following the vote to exit the European Union.
Recommendations made in the report include the Parliament tracking the Scot- tish Government’s progress against international human rights obligations, human rights training for MSPS and staff and integrating human rights considerations into all parliamentary scrutiny.
The committee has also called on the Parliament to create “human rights champions” on every committee.
Committee convener Ruth Maguire said: “The steps we are setting out will help MSPS, Parliament staff, public bodies and the Scottish Government get human rights right.
“We want people across Scotland to understand their rights and to know how to exercise them; we want public bodies taking decisions to advance human rights; and we want Parliament to be the guarantor of those rights. We have lots of ideas and lots of examples of best practice.the challenge now is to make that standard practice.”
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland Bruce Adamson said: “When it comes to human rights promotion and protection, the Scottish Parliament and MSPS are essential actors.
“The unique role national parliaments can and should play in monitoring and scrutinising their Government’s fulfilment of international human rights commitments has been clearly articulated by the United Nations, the Inter-parliamentary Union, the Council of Europe and the European Union. This report explores what further steps the Scottish Parliament should take to ensure international human rights law ... is being followed in Scotland.”