Adult Protection and Human Rights

As part of our work to promote human dignity and care the Commission has developed a human rights framework to address historic abuse, and has been working with Adult Protection Committees across Scotland to promote a human rights based approach to adult protection.

Human Rights Framework to address historic child abuse

The Commission acknowledged steps which Scotland has already taken, including the apology from the then First Minister Jack McConnell in 2004, the Scottish Government’s SurvivorScotland strategy, and the decision to pilot a confidential forum to hear the experiences of survivors of abuse, “Time to be Heard”.

The framework from the Commission outlines a comprehensive approach to ensuring effective access to justice, remedies and reparation for childhood abuse.

You can read the Human Rights Framework in large print Word format.

The framework is based on an analysis of international human rights law and a research paper based on interviews with survivors and focus groups.

You can read the analysis of international human rights law relevant to acknowledgement and accountability of historic child abuse in Word format.

You can read the research paper in PDF format.

On 29 November 2011 the Commission gave evidence to the Public Petitions Committee at the Scottish Parliament. You can watch videos of the evidence given at the BBC Democracy Live website - link.

On 5 December 2011 the Commission wrote to Members of the Committee around next steps - read the letter. 

Update

On 24 January 2012 the Commission has launched an invitation to tender for the preparation of an interaction with survivors of historic child abuse, representatives of child care institutions, Government, civil society and other bodies which have or had responsibilities for child care. This follows a commitment by Scottish Ministers to engage with and seriously consider the outcomes of such an interaction. The purpose of the interaction will be to develop an action plan to implement the recommendations which the Commission made in the Human Rights Framework for Justice and Remedies for Historic Child Abuse. You can read the invitation to tender on the Opportunities page.

Adult Protection and Human Rights

The Commission has been working with Adult Protection Committees and others with responsibilities to protect adults at risk of harm to promote a human rights based approach to adult protection across Scotland.

The Commission has already presented a human rights approach to adult protection at a national conference on Adult Protection and Human Rights in Perth in March 2010, and to the Chairs of all Adult Protection Committees from across Scotland, and to various relevant events in South Ayrshire, Borders, West Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway.

Read the speech to the conference given by Duncan Wilson, Head of Legal and Strategy for the Commission.