Economic, Social and Cultural Human Rights Failures in the Highlands and Islands
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 27th November 2024
The Scottish Human Rights Commission have published a report on all economic, social and cultural rights in the Highlands and Islands.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) have published a report looking at the realisation of all economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights in the Highlands and Islands. ESC rights are necessary to live a life free from fear and want. These include the right to housing, food, health and social security.
The report gathers the lived experiences of people and communities heard during visits to the Highlands and Islands. It also includes desk-based research and analysis of human rights complaints to MSPs and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. This work aimed to fill gaps in human rights evidence bases and raise awareness of human rights issues in these areas with decision makers, showing the need for a geographically specific approach to Scottish law and policy.
Some of the most critical issues that we found are the apparent failures to meet the most basic international obligations related to the right to food, the right to housing, the right to health, and the right to cultural life.
By listening to the lived experiences of residents and organisations in the area, as well as through human rights treaty monitoring work, the SHRC identified specific issues affecting rural and island communities, such as:
- Slow and inaccessible health care services
- Lack of affordable housing
- Limited access to sufficient and nutritious food
- Poverty related gaps in education
- Limited access to technology and poor internet connectivity
- Fuel poverty
Concerningly, it was reported by rights holders that there is an apparent regression or deterioration of rights across the Highlands and Islands. This is exacerbated by decisions on budget reductions or the complete elimination of previously existing services, without sufficient mitigating measures.
Across all rights examined, there is not a single human right that meets all the conditions of adequacy under international law. This means that there are significant failures in how policies and services are being designed and/or delivered and services across the Highlands and Islands are not fully accessible, affordable, available, acceptable, or of sufficient quality (among other conditions).
As a result, the SHRC has issued recommendations to the Scottish Government and duty bearers to ensure there is full compliance with Scotland’s international human rights obligations.
Read the Executive Summary of the report. Or, read the report in full here.
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