Year One Report on Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights

Date: 24th November 2014
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, General measures of implementation

Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) was launched on Human Rights Day 2013, and a report setting out the progress made in its first year has been published.

Professor Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission and Chair of the SNAP Leadership Panel introduced the Year One Report by stating:

"Human rights have a great deal to add to discussions about building the kind of society Scotland wants to be. SNAP's first year has been characterised by building partnerships and working together, seeking to change strategic and operational processes so that better outcomes follow in people's lives.

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 Year One Report is a central part of ensuring transparency and accountability in SNAP's implementation. It was presented to the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee on 25th November 2014 ahead of a wider debate in the Scottish Parliament held on 4th December.

The report reflects on the work of five Human Rights Action Groups convened to take forward the commitments in SNAP, of which Together sits on two (Justice and Safety and Better World). These Action Groups bring together public sector, civil society and membership organisations. In this first year, they have focused on agreeing ways of working, identifying specific steps to be taken and beginning to put plans into action.

A series of events are taking place around Scotland to mark SNAP's birthday and International Human Rights Day today, the 10th December. A social media campaign - #OurRightsSNAP - will also celebrate the role of human rights in everyday life.