Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP)
Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) was launched on International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013. It set out a bold roadmap towards a Scotland where everyone can live with human dignity.
SNAP was the first National Action Plan for human rights in any part of the UK and drew from experiences of countries all over the world, as well as guidance from the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Based on evidence and broad participation, SNAP was developed by a Drafting Group from across the public and voluntary sectors.
Download the Action Plan 2013-2017 and reports on progress in Year One, Year Two and Year Three. You can also watch the highlights from a reception held to mark SNAP's third anniversary in December 2016 (video below).
SNAP originally ran for four years until December 2017. Since then, work has been taking place to develop Scotland’s second National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP 2). This has drawn on lessons identified from an independent evaluation of the first SNAP, and the National Participation Process in 2017 involving over 1,000 people. Read the participation process report and watch highlights from a National Participation Event below.
Detailed proposals for Scotland’s next SNAP were published for public consultation in autumn 2019.
Development of SNAP 2 was disrupted for nearly two years by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in October 2021, an interim SNAP Secretariat Lead was appointed. This role is hosted by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, with funding and resources provided by Scottish Government and the Commission. It is the first step towards a fully independent SNAP Secretariat that will support the new SNAP Leadership Panel and the implementation of SNAP actions.
In March 2022 a new SNAP Leadership Panel was appointed, where different stakeholders work together as equals to review and launch Scotland’s next SNAP. After SNAP 2 is launched in 2023, the Panel will monitor and oversee its implementation.
