Human Rights Leadership: national taskforce
Overview
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The National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership was established in early 2019, to take forward the recommendations made in the 2018 Report of the First Minister’s Advisory Group on Human Rights to prioritise actions to progress human rights and equality in Scotland.
The National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership is co-chaired by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, and Professor Alan Miller, Professor of Practice in Human Rights Law, University of Strathclyde and Independent Expert with UNDP Crisis Response. The Taskforce is comprised of members from the public sector and civil society, as well as legal and academic experts in human rights.
On 12 March 2021, the Taskforce published the National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership Report, (also available in easy read format) setting out its recommendations and evidence base to the Scottish Government for establishing a statutory framework for human rights that will bring internationally recognised human rights treaties into domestic law to protect and advance the realisation of human rights for everyone in Scotland.
The Taskforce’s recommendations are underpinned by extensive public engagement with a wide range of representatives from the public sector, civil society and human rights experts. The Taskforce also greatly appreciated the additional evidence base set out in the All Our Rights in Law report provided jointly by Human Rights Consortium Scotland and the Scottish Human Rights Commission, as well as valuable analysis provided by the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights’ report.
An Academic Advisory Panel of experts was established to support the Taskforce by considering some of the legal complexities involved in transforming international human rights treaties into domestic legislation. The Academic Advisory Panel provided the Taskforce with briefings on a number of areas to inform and facilitate the Taskforce’s work. The Taskforce is grateful for the expertise offered by the Academic Advisory Panel members and thanks them for their valuable contributions.
Programme of engagement
The Taskforce has met with a wide range of groups across civil society and the public sector, public authorities and scrutiny bodies, as well as experts in human rights law, albeit virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. This included over fifty Taskforce led engagements to inform the development of recommendations for a statutory framework for human rights in Scotland.
The Taskforce would like to thank all participants who contributed evidence, views, and comments which have been vital in forming the recommendations in the final report.
Members
Name |
Position/Organisation |
Taskforce role |
Shirley-Anne Somerville |
Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People |
Government Co-chair |
Prof Alan Miller |
Professor of Practice in Human Rights Law, University of Strathclyde and Special Envoy of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. |
Independent Co-chair |
Christina McKelvie |
Minister for Older People and Equalities |
Portfolio Minister with responsibility for Human Rights |
Claire Sweeney | Director for Place and Wellbeing at Public Health Scotland |
Member representing Public Health Scotland |
Murray Hunt |
Barrister specialising in Human Rights, and Legal Adviser to the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Rule of Law |
Independent Member |
Fiona Killen |
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland |
Member representing Law Society Scotland |
Prof Elisa Morgera |
Co-Director of Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance |
Independent Member |
Nils Muižnieks |
Former Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe |
Independent Member |
Cllr Kelly Parry |
Councillor and COSLA’s spokesperson for community well-being |
Member representing COSLA |
Alastair Pringle |
Executive Director Corporate Delivery and Scotland, Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Scotland |
Member representing EHRC Scotland |
Judith Robertson |
Chair, Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) |
Member representing SHRC |
Mhairi Snowden |
Co-ordinator Human Rights Consortium Scotland |
Member representing the Consortium and civil society interests |
Academic Advisory Panel
An Academic Advisory Panel of experts was established to support the Taskforce by considering some of the legal complexities involved in transforming international human rights treaties into domestic legislation. The Academic Advisory Panel provided the Taskforce with briefings on a number of areas to inform and facilitate the Taskforce’s work. The Taskforce is grateful for the expertise offered by the Academic Advisory Panel members and thanks them for their valuable contributions.
Academic Advisory Panel briefing papers were submitted to Taskforce members in order to facilitate discussion.
Members of the Academic Advisory Panel:
Name |
Position/Organisation |
Panel role |
Professor Nicole Busby |
University of Glasgow. Professor of Human Rights, Equality and Justice. |
Chair |
Dr Katie Boyle |
University of Stirling. Specialism: models of incorporation of international human rights. |
Member |
Professor Tobias Lock |
Maynooth University, Ireland. Specialism: EU Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
Member |
Dr Kasey McCall-Smith |
University of Edinburgh. Specialism: the international human rights treaty system. |
Member |
Dr Elaine Webster |
University of Strathclyde. Specialism: the concept of human dignity in human rights law. |
Member |
Documents
- National Taskforce For Human Rights Leadership: terms of reference
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 10 March 2021
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 10 February 2021
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 13 January 2021
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 10 December 2020
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 18 November 2020
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 27 October 2020
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 9 September 2020
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 1 July 2020
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 26 February 2020
- Human Rights Leadership in Scotland event: 20 February 2020
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 20 November 2019
- National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership: agenda and minutes - 2 October 2019
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