Human rights institutions take report on disabled people’s rights to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva

The UK and Scottish Governments must do more to protect the rights of disabled people in Scotland, according to evidence presented to the United Nations in Geneva today.

The UK and Scottish reports, submitted to the UN by the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, assess the extent to which the UK and Scottish Governments are meeting their international human rights treaty obligations.

A recent inquiry by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluded that the UK Government’s welfare change programme has resulted in grave and systematic violations of disabled people’s human rights. The evidence presented in Geneva today highlights further areas in which improvement is urgently needed to ensure disabled people in Scotland can live independently with dignity – including access to housing, education, health, law, advocacy and money.

Speaking about the report, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission Judith Robertson said: “We call on the UK and Scottish Governments to act urgently so that disabled people are able to access all of their rights, including the right to live independently, to work and to an adequate standard of living. These rights are protected in international law by the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Commission monitors the Convention’s implementation in Scotland.

“As the Scottish Government and Parliament considers how to utilise new devolved powers in relation to social security, the Commission particularly draws attention to the need to embed human rights into any new laws, policies and practices.”

A short animation summarising the report and its key recommendations is now available to view online, along with a transcript of the video with descriptions.