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.
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 |
|
Cath Denholm |
Director NHS Health Scotland, and Deputy Chair Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) |
Member representing NHS Health Scotland and SNH |
|
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 |
Member Constitutional Law Sub-Committee, Law Society of Scotland, and Head of Parliamentary and Public Law Unit, Anderson Strathern |
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 |
National Director, 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 |