Human Rights Bill must be a priority for new government - joint letter

This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 3rd June 2026

A coalition of organisations has written to the First Minister to outline the importance of a Scottish Human Rights Bill being delivered in the first year of the new parliament.

The Bill was included in the SNP’s manifesto, and follows a previous commitment that a Bill incorporating international human rights standards would be introduced in the last parliament.

Led by Human Rights Consortium Scotland, the joint letter also calls for the creation of a Cabinet Secretary or Minister for Human Rights.

"Human rights are too often subsumed within the equality, diversity and inclusion portfolio,” the letter says, "we believe the time is right for a Scottish Minister whose sole focus is human rights."

The Bill will include four treaties, providing economic, social and cultural rights, womens' right, rights for those who face racial discrimination, and rights for disabled people.

The Bill will also include a right to a healthy environment, as well as additional protections for groups such as older people and LGBT+ people.