Human Rights

Two new part-time commissioners have been appointed to the Scottish Human Rights Commission, bringing with them significant experience in governance of public bodies and expertise in the third sector and human rights. Following an open appointment process by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Destruction in Bat Yam after an Iranian missile strike Credit: Yoav Keren, CC BY-SA 3.0

States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International, in a new report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked trade in law enforcement equipment. &ldquo

The relentless gang violence in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas has resulted in a brutal attack on childhood in Haiti, Amnesty International said in a new report. “I’m a child, why did this happen to me?”: Gangs’ assault on childhood in Haiti, documents how children are

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is offering a free online training course for human rights defenders working on cases relating to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).  Taking place from 17–27 February, the programme is divided into 16 sessions co

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has found that people with learning disabilities and autistic people are still being held in institutions in breach of their human rights, with no evidence of a human rights based approach to end this practice. A new report from the human rights watchdog identifi

Three individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping others have been named finalists for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2025 (RBHA). Supported by South Ayrshire Council's Destination South Ayrshire service, the RBHA celebrates exceptional courage, commitment, and hands-on humanitarian w

The Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use has been launched, aiming to improve the experience of anyone needing support. The charter, the first of its kind in the world, will help ensure people know their rights and the support they can expect to receive, and that those who use drug

A march will take place on Human Rights Day next Tuesday to call on the Scottish government to reintroduce the Scottish Human Rights Bill. Organisers and participants are urging the Scottish government to bring the bill back and to MSPs to pledge their commitment to the bill, prioritising it in thei

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has reported challenges with accessing human rights to health, housing, and food across the Highlands and Islands. Critical issues include an apparent failure to meet the most basic international obligations related to the right to health, the right to housing an

Amnesty International has designated three prominent human rights defenders from Hong Kong and mainland China as prisoners of conscience. Human rights lawyers Chow Hang-tung and Ding Jiaxi, along with the free media advocate Jimmy Lai, are all currently imprisoned because of their peaceful human rig

A coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations has demanded that the Scottish government fulfil its promise to introduce the Scottish Human Rights Bill. In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, the organisations express their frustration at the bill’s exclusion from the current le

The Scottish Human Rights Commission said it is "deeply disappointed" that First Minister John Swinney has not delivered the new Human Rights Bill for Scotland in his Programme for Government. Professor Angela O’Hagan, chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said: “The proposed Hu

Deaths in custody, segregation and mental health are among the areas of concern in prisons and forensic mental health settings in Scotland, according to a new report. The Scottish Human Rights Commission and UK National Preventive Mechanism joint report concludes that little progress has been made a

Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza has repeatedly violated fundamental principles of the laws of war, according to a new report from the UN Human Rights Office. The report, published yesterday, details six emblematic attacks involving the suspected use of GBU-31 (2,000 lbs), GBU-32 (1,000 lbs) and GB