Parliament invited to nominate new Chair of SHRC

The Scottish Parliament will next week be invited to nominate Judith Robertson to Her Majesty for appointment as the new Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission. 

The Scottish Human Rights Commission’s role is to promote widespread awareness, understanding of, and respect for, human rights. 

Ms Robertson is expected to succeed Professor Alan Miller who stands down from the post in March this year.

The appointment follows an open recruitment process which sought candidates who are committed to promoting and protecting human rights issues and have senior management experience.  Ms Robertson will take up post in late March 2016.

The full-time, fixed term appointment for six years has a salary of £70k.

Biographical information

Judith Robertson is currently the Programme Director of See Me - Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination. 

Prior to this post she had a 17 year career with Oxfam as both Programme Manager for Oxfam’s Poverty Programme in Scotland (8 years) and as Head of Oxfam Scotland (9 years). 

Ms Robertson has had a long-standing involvement in international issues, in social justice issues and in advocating for change and for the rights of many disadvantaged groups. 

Background information

The Commission is the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) for Scotland.  NHRls are independent organisations established by law, to promote and protect human rights. The Commission is one of over 100 NHRls around the world. 

The Scottish Parliament will be asked to agree Ms Robertson’s appointment on Tuesday 2 February 2016. The motion is as follows:

Drew Smith MSP on behalf of the Selection Panel:  Appointment of the Chair of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights under Schedule 1 of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006 –

That the Parliament nominates Ms Judith Robertson to Her Majesty The Queen for appointment as the Chair of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights.