Human Rights Day: Human rights must be at the heart of decision making in Scotland
We must urgently act to close the gap between ambition and delivery when it comes to human rights in Scotland, says the Scottish Greens human rights spokesperson, Maggie Chapman MSP.
Speaking ahead of a Scottish Government debate on Pathways to Global Human Rights: Towards a Stronger Human Rights Culture in Scotland, Ms Chapman expressed her disappointment and frustration with the Scottish Government’s decision to drop its commitment to deliver a much anticipated Human Rights Bill.
The Bill, which had been agreed as part of the Bute House Agreement that brought the Scottish Greens into government for the first time, sought to incorporate specific protections for disabled people, women and people of colour, as well as social, cultural and economic rights, and the right to a healthy environment. The introduction of the Bill was dropped this year by the SNP.
Ms Chapman said:
“The Scottish Government talks a good game on human rights, but there has often been a big gap between its rhetoric and its delivery.
“One of the most important steps we were taking to protect people’s rights was the Human Rights Bill until, despite repeated promises to the contrary, it was dropped by the SNP alongside plans to ban so-called conversion therapy.
“Human rights are not optional, and must always be at the heart of decision making.
“Yet, across the UK things are moving backwards, with immoral and illegal attacks on the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum. We have seen a concerted effort to roll back the rights of trans people in particular and the criminalisation of protest.
“The people being targeted the most are those from marginalised communities who don’t have a voice in our parliament and who have been hit the hardest by cuts, austerity and 14 years of Tory misrule.
“Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity and to be able to access the services they need. These are the building blocks of a fairer and better society like the one that I know we can be.”