Human Rights Commission publishes one-year report on Action Plan
A progress report on its blueprint, Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP), has been published by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, ahead of the first anniversary of the launch of SNAP on 10 December.
SNAP aims to set out a systematic approach to realising human rights in practice, by getting the Scottish Government, public bodies and other organisations to commit to embedding human rights protection in the delivery of services to individuals. It is aimed at local and central government, health services and police, as well as businesses in Scotland.
The report discloses that over the first year of SNAP, the Commission has formed five human rights action groups to take forward the commitments in SNAP, bringing together public sector, civil society and membership organisations. To date, they have focused on agreeing ways of working, identifying specific steps to be taken and beginning to put plans into action.
Professor Alan Miller, chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission and of the SNAP Leadership Panel, said the emphasis had been on seeking to change strategic and operational processes so that better outcomes follow in people’s lives.
“Human rights have a great deal to add to discussions about building the kind of society Scotland wants to be", he commented.
“As we move into year two, we must build on successes – such as the clear commitment to embedding human rights in the integration of health and social care – and capitalise on opportunities to put human rights at the heart of newly-energised public debates about Scotland’s future.”
The report has been presented to the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee, ahead of a wider debate in the Scottish Parliament on 4 December.
A series of events will also take place around Scotland to mark SNAP's birthday on 10 December – which is also United Nations International Human Rights Day. A social media campaign – #OurRightsSNAP – will also celebrate the role of human rights in everyday life.