Dignity in care
In this short video, Head of Legal and Stragegy, Duncan Wilson, explains why dignity in care is a thematic priority for the Commission.
DW:
"Hi, I’m Duncan Wilson, I’m the Head of Strategy and Legal at the Scottish Human Rights Commission.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission has just finished a 3 month consultation on what we should focus on in the first four years. We’ve been from the south to the north from Dumfries to Lerwick, and the east to the west from Glenrothes to Stornoway. During the consultation we had the chance to meet with a wide range of people from a huge range of different backgrounds, from public authorities, from civil society, people who are directly affected by the issues that we’re looking to work on as well.
The consultation process made very clear that there was one issue that came out strongly, that the Commission really had to work on. And that was human dignity and care. So, for the first period of the Commission we’re going to focus on the issue of human dignity. Empowering people across the country to understand their rights and developing or finding examples of good practice where human rights have been used to advance people’s dignity and improve their conditions of life. We were also struck by the amount of goodwill that those in public as well as private and non-governmental bodies showed to raising or working with a human rights approach and the request that they made very strongly ,that the Commission work with them to provide them with the tools, the understanding and the ability to put that into practice in their day to day work.
Well, our main project over the next few years is going to be mapping the state of all human rights across Scotland. Looking for where the gaps are in the realisation of rights and also where the examples of good practice are. That’ll help us to help inform what we focus on in the future. It should also contribute to the development of a national action plan for human rights for Scotland and it’ll also give us an evidence base to report to the United Nations on how Scotland is doing in realising its human rights obligations. "
10 Wee Commandments
The Commission supported the filming and production of a series of short films made by young people about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Introducing Dignity in Care
Legal Officer for the Commission, Kavita Chetty, explains the importance of Dignity in Care for the Commission's strategic work and outlines how Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights can be interpreted to help protect and promote human dignity.
Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson address the Human Rights and Climate Change conference, Glasgow Science Centre, 23 November 2009
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part seven
Albie Sachs discusses interventions from third parties and civil society groups in court cases and how judges exercise proportionality in considering fundamental human rights.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part six
Justice Albie Sachs discusses due process and the prohibition against cruel and degrading treatment.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part five
Justice Albie Sachs and Professor Alan Miller discuss constitutionalism and potential threats to the Human Rights Act in the UK.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part four
Albie Sachs comments on secrecy of information and setting up public enquiries. His young son, Oliver, can be heard in the background.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part three
Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Professor Alan Miller, responds to Alibe Sachs talking about human dignity and proportionality when he spoke at the UK and Irish gathering of national human rights institutions in Edinburgh, June 2009.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part two
Justice Sachs reads from his book entitled 'The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law' and reflects upon the trademark case known as the 'Laugh it Off' case that came before him as a jude at the South African Constitutional Court.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part one
"We are delighted to now share with you the experience of spending time “In conversation with Justice Albie Sachs”. Professor Alan MillerChair, Scottish Human Rights Commission”