Scottish Human Rights Commission welcomes Council of Europe to Scotland for talks on rural rights

The Scottish Human Rights Commission welcomes representatives from the Council of Europe to Scotland for the first time to discuss the human rights challenges that rural communities face.

This follows the publication of the SHRC spotlight report on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, published last year.

The Council of Europe’s visit to Scotland will mark ten years of collaboration on economic, social and cultural rights. The SHRC will join participants including the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), and Equinet, the umbrella organisation for European equality bodies.

This group will take part in the roundtable on human rights, as well as a Parliamentary reception and an official Council of Europe Social Rights Platform Meeting at the Scottish Parliament.

Speakers include Rafael Benítez, Director of Social Rights from the Council of Europe, Debbie Kohner, Secretary General of ENNHRI, Tamás Kádárco, Co-director of Equinet, and Piotr Sadowski Secretary General of Volonteurope and Vice President of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe.

Professor Angela O’Hagan, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said:

“Strengthening social, cultural, and economic rights is not optional — it is a critical priority for the Scottish Human Rights Commission. These rights are essential to people’s dignity, equality, and participation in society.

“The Council of Europe encourages us to continue our existing work to monitor how human rights are being directly experienced in Scotland, to provide advice and guidance to promote better enjoyment of human rights for all. This strengthens Scotland’s NHRI and human rights legal framework to best promote the rights of everyone in Scotland.”

“The Scottish Government is still considering a Human Rights Bill for Scotland to bring economic and social rights into Scots law.

“As we look ahead, we are fully committed to working with our European partners to ensure that social rights are fully realised in people’s everyday lives in Scotland.”

Ends

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Notes to Editors:

  1. The Scottish Human Rights Commission is Scotland’s independent human rights watchdog, established under the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006.
  2. The SHRC is Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), accredited with A-status by the UN.
  3. The Council of Europe promotes human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across Europe.
  4. The SHRC’s report Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands was published in November 2024.
  5. More information on SHRC’s spotlight projects, including work on access to justice.