People in the South of Scotland invited to have their say on economic, social and cultural rights

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is coming to the South of Scotland to ask people about their experiences of economic, social and cultural rights.

The spotlight research will assess how human rights such as housing, health, education, food, social security and culture are being realised across the South of Scotland regional area, as well as Ayrshire, Cumbrae and Arran. The SHRC will produce a report for the Scottish Parliament on their findings.

Community visits

The SHRC will hold events in Dumfries and Galashiels to hear from individuals and community groups about how they are experiencing human rights in their everyday lives.

The events are free to attend. Participants can sign up at the SHRC website or using Eventbrite. Throughout February and March SHRC is embarking on a six-week fact finding visit to the South of Scotland, including Ayrshire, Cumbrae, and Arran.

The SHRC will visit and hear first-hand from human rights defenders on the ground about the issues facing their communities in Stranraer, Ayr, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Hamilton, Irvine, Arran, Galashiels, Kelso, Dalkeith and Haddington.

The work follows the successful Highlands and Islands pilot in 2023-24 and report publication in November 2024 and is the next phase of the SHRC’s local monitoring work.

The project uses an innovative human rights monitoring model, which brings the SHRC closer to local communities and their human rights concerns.

The new local monitoring work will explore:

  • The key economic, social and cultural rights issues affecting communities
  • The impact of policies and legislation on human rights
  • The efforts made to prioritise the most critical human rights obligations

The SHRC will examine the period from January 2016 to January 2026, allowing the SHRC to assess progress in the realisation of rights and identify any areas of concern.

The final report will be laid before the Scottish Parliament in summer 2026, using the SHRC's powers under section 4(1)(b) of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006.

Professor Angela O’Hagan, Chair of the SHRC, says:

“We want to understand the human rights issues affecting people across the South of Scotland. We are focusing on economic, social and cultural rights, including access to housing, health care, education, energy, food and essential services.

“Through local monitoring work like this we find out what specific challenges there are for people in rural areas in accessing services and experiencing poverty.

“This Spotlight allow us to gather new evidence directly from communities and help assess how local authorities are meeting their human rights obligations and make practical recommendations to improve outcomes for people living in the area.”

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For media enquiries please contact Judy Fladmark on mobile 07880 398530 or email media@scottishhumanrights.com.

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