Equality and human rights mainstreaming strategy
Sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to embedding equality and human rights into everything it does across government and encouraging the same approach across the wider public sector.
Annex A – Background and approach to development
The Scottish Government committed to publishing a mainstreaming framework, which includes this Strategy, a supporting Action Plan, and a Toolkit as set out in the Policy Prospectus (April 2023) and reaffirmed in the Programme for Government (2024-25 and 2025-26).
In the pursuit of building a strategy that tackles inequality and discrimination and promotes equal opportunities, we held several engagement sessions with stakeholders both internally and externally, including officials from across Scottish Government, the public sector, and equalities and human rights third sector organisations.
In our engagement, we covered a wide range of critical issues through a series of informative sessions.
From August 2021 to March 2022 the Mainstreaming and Strategy Unit in the Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Division held initial ‘Deep Dive’ sessions with stakeholders to shape early thinking. Thematic ‘Deep Dive’ sessions were held during July–November 2022 which identified six drivers of change felt to be integral to mainstreaming equality and human rights: strengthening leadership; developing accountability and transparency; ensuring effective regulatory and policy environment; utilising evidence and experience; enhancing capability and culture; and improving capacity. These six drivers now form the backbone of the Strategy’s framework.
A 14-week written consultation on the draft Strategy ran from October 2024 to February 2025, receiving over 130 responses from a broad range of stakeholders, including public bodies, third sector organisations, and individuals. This was complemented by virtual stakeholder events attended by around 100 participants, which provided further insight into the practical needs and expectations of those working to embed equality and human rights.
The consultation analysis report, published in July 2025, confirmed strong support for the Strategy’s overall direction, with respondents endorsing its vision, objectives, and six key drivers of change. Stakeholders also offered constructive suggestions to strengthen delivery. These insights have directly informed the final structure and content of the Strategy, Action Plan, and Toolkit.
Scottish Government and public bodies are already subject to specific legal obligations in relation to mainstreaming.