Scottish Human Rights Commission: Independent Governance Review
The Scottish Human Rights Commission is pleased to have accepted the findings of an Independent Review of its governance arrangements.
A Vision Statement from the Members of the Commission:
“The Scottish Human Rights Commission exists to serve the people of Scotland. The experiences we hear about daily tell us that many people are facing human rights challenges, worsened by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
Established via an act of the Scottish Parliament in 2006, the Commission is Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI). We have a general duty to promote awareness, understanding and respect for human rights in Scotland.
Fifteen years since the doors of the Commission first opened in 2008, human rights in Scotland exist within an increasingly turbulent political and economic environment. We believe it has never been more important to have a robust National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).
We also have crucial opportunities ahead via the Scottish Government’s proposed Human Rights Bill. This will likely increase the legal powers and duties of the Commission, so it is only right that we do everything possible to strengthen the Commission, ready for the next fifteen years and beyond.
In March 2023, the Commission initiated an independent Governance Review. This review has now concluded.
By accepting the recommendations of this Governance review, the Commission is ready to enter its next phase of development. This will help ensure we are a robust, independent NHRI, with the necessary powers and resources to hold duty bearers to account where human rights are at risk in Scotland.
As Members of the Commission, we share the responsibility of ensuring that the Commission operates effectively as an independent public body answerable to the Scottish Parliament, and as an NHRI. As an NHRI the Commission must satisfy the United Nations Paris Principles and submit to periodic re-accreditation. It must also align in its values and practice with international human rights standards, particularly those mentioned in its founding law, the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006.
The recommendations made by the Governance Review will ensure that the Commission fulfils these requirements and is well prepared for further growth and development of its mandate.
We pay tribute to and sincerely offer our thanks to current and former members of the Commission and staff their contribution to the SHRC. We will build on their endeavour through this next phase.
Together, the Commission is ready to face the opportunities ahead. We bear witness to people’s daily experiences, work with others, and use our powers to help make rights real for all in Scotland.
Signed,
Jim Farish, Member, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Shelley Gray, Member, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Claire Methven O’Brien, Member, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Edinburgh, September 2023
Note: The Commission is an independent public body with a mandate to promote and protect human rights in Scotland. Members of the Commission are appointed by the Scottish Parliament to form the Commission.
The Commission’s operations are led by Executive Director Jan Savage, appointed in January 2023. Claire Methven O’Brien, Jim Farish and Shelley Gray are part-time members of Commission. Their 6-year term commenced in September 2022 following an open recruitment process and appointment by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
After the Commission identified the need for a Governance review and a competitive tender process, an independent consultant was contracted to undertake a Governance Review.
Find out more about the key recommendations of the Governance Review here.
Read the Review here.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The Scottish Human Rights Commission is a body corporate established by the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006. It has a general mandate to promote and protect human rights in Scotland. The Commission is an independent public body and a National Human Rights Institution, accredited with A Status within the United Nations human rights system.
- The Commission is currently comprised by three part-time Members (Jim Farish, Shelley Gray and Claire Methven O’Brien).
- Recruitment of a new Chair of the Commission will take place later in 2023/24
- Find out more on our website www.scottishhumanrights.com