State of the Nation warns that essential human rights are out of reach for many in Scotland

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) publishes its second comprehensive annual assessment of how human rights are being realised across Scotland, offering a snapshot of the pressures and inequalities shaping people’s daily lives.

The State of the Nation 2025 report focuses on economic, social and cultural rights, the rights that ensure everyone can live with dignity: rights to adequate housing, health, social security, food, and fair working conditions.

The report finds that for many people these rights remain out of reach. Across the country, people are struggling to afford food, fuel and housing or to access essential services.

The SHRC will present this year’s State of the Nation report to the Scottish Parliament this week to mark Human Rights Day on 10 December 2025.

Ten areas of urgent concern across Scotland

The SHRC highlights ten areas where Scotland is falling short of its human rights obligations based on lived experience, spotlight projects and international treaty monitoring. These include:

  1. The provision of healthcare across Scotland is not always available when and where people need it
  2. The support for people with learning disabilities and autism to live in their own homes is inadequate
  3. Disability-related social security entitlements do not provide a decent standard of living for disabled people and are at risk of retrogression
  4. A housing crisis is denying people across Scotland access to safe, affordable and adequate housing.
  5. Changes to the UK welfare system disadvantage the most marginalised people and families
  6. High levels of food insecurity and unaffordability mean that people in Scotland are hungry and not fully nourished
  7. Caregiving responsibilities for children, disabled people and older people are not fairly distributed or recognised
  8. Basic daily essentials that keep us safe and warm are unaffordable
  9. People cannot access effective justice or remedies when their ESC rights are not realised
  10. The budget allocated to food programmes, social security, housing, health, education, employment services and other areas related to ESC rights is inadequate

Scottish rights holders Anne, Derek, Nada and Shamus share their powerful stories to illustrate what economic, social and cultural rights look like in their daily lives.

Read the 2025 State of the Nation report. Available as a PDF, an accessible Word document, an Easy Read and in BSL.

The SHRC asks the Scottish Parliament and public authorities to embed human rights into scrutiny, legislative processes and budget decisions.

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

“Economic, social and cultural rights are the foundations of a dignified life, but for many people in Scotland these rights remain out of reach. People are struggling to heat their homes, feed their families, or access basic services, and this is fuelling real frustration and tension across our communities.

“At times like these, human rights matter more than ever. They provide the framework that requires public bodies to act fairly, protect people’s dignity, and direct resources to those who need them most. The most effective way to rebuild trust and reduce anger is to make these rights a lived reality for everyone.

“This report is a clear call to action. We urge the Scottish Parliament and all public bodies to use its findings to make better decisions about legislation, budgeting and service delivery. Human rights set the minimum standards that people in Scotland should be able to depend on, especially during tough times.”

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

Notes to editors:

  1. The SHRC is Scotland’s human rights watchdog. It is an independent public body, created by the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006, to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Scotland. Find out more on our website.