National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership
Overview
The National Taskforce for Human Rights was established in early 2019, in response to the recommendations made in December 2018 by the First Minister’s Advisory Group on Human Rights, and to prioritise actions that address the human rights and equality impacts of Brexit in Scotland.
The National Taskforce for Human Rights is made up of members from the public sector and civil society. It is co-chaired by the Social Security and Older People Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Professor Alan Miller, Professor of Practice in Human Rights Law, University of Strathclyde and Special Envoy of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
The Taskforce will work to establish a statutory framework for human rights that can bring internationally recognised human rights into domestic law and protect the human rights of every member of Scottish Society.
The Taskforce is currently in the early stages of developing this new human rights framework, and is working with a wide range of representatives from the public sector, civil society and other human rights experts to determine what will go into the framework in relation to specific rights.
Programme of Engagement
We maintain a list of past and upcoming stakeholder engagement events.
Other useful links
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 in key areas has been established to support the National Taskforce by considering some of the legal complexities involved in translating international human rights treaties into domestic legislation. The Academic Advisory Panel will provide the Taskforce with briefings on a number of areas, including the scope and content of an equality clause, the relevant rights and their content, and the various duties arising.
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 - 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