ALLIANCE sign Human Rights Day 2025 letter calling on Prime Minister to uphold rights
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 10th December 2025
The letter calls for a reaffirmation of the UK's commitment to human rights and to oppose any proposals to weaken them.
Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on 10 December, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This year, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) have joined over 180 organisations across the UK in signing a joint letter calling on the Prime Minister and other political leaders.
The theme for this year’s Human Right’s Day is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials“, reflecting the centrality of rights to every aspect of our lives, every day. ALLIANCE Director of Policy and Research, Lucy Mulvagh, reflected on the relevance of that theme to both the ALLIANCE’s work and the current moment. This joint letter, initiated by the British Institute of Human Rights, similarly emphasises the need to make rights real and stand against any attempts to roll back vital human rights protections. The letter calls on the Prime Minister and others to:
- Publicly reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Human Rights Act.
- Reject any proposals that weaken these frameworks and commit to securing them now and for the future.
- Invest in making human rights real, ensuring that communities, public bodies and individuals have the knowledge, resources and confidence to uphold them in practice.
- Lead with clarity and courage, being clear that human rights are not a partisan issue but the shared foundation of our democracy.
In moments of uncertainty, human rights provide a shared foundation of fairness, dignity and accountability. That’s why we joined over 180 signatories across the UK to come together this Human Rights Day to challenge recent negative rhetoric on rights. We are united in saying we want better from the Prime Minister and a future where rights are real for everyone.
You can read the full letter via the links below, as well as in Easy Read format.
End of page.
You may also like:
New guidance supports Audiology services to design and develop clinical peer review schemes to support quality assurance.
Continue readingRegister for this paid Advisory Panel opportunity
Continue readingTake a short survey to share your experiences
Continue readingLearn about this new way NDCS are supporting families.
Continue readingBooking is now open for Peer Connect events across 2026/27.
Continue readingShare your experiences of accessing and using NHS Lothian services by survey or focus group.
Continue readingNew appointments for Màiri McAllan, Alison Thewliss, Maree Todd and Simita Kumar.
Continue readingSign up to participate in this co-design study
Continue readingPatient groups, patients and carers are invited to share their views.
Continue readingThe letter urges honesty on the financial challenges facing Scotland, and progressing reforms to council tax.
Continue reading#TryAToolTuesday raises awareness of free and trusted apps and resources that help people improve and manage their health and wellbeing.
Continue readingAn exciting opportunity to support DES in meeting its strategic aims.
Continue readingALLIANCE consultation response calls for clearer guidance, sustained investment and local support to make carers' breaks a reality.
Continue readingThe letter also calls on the Scottish Government to appoint a dedicated Cabinet Secretary for Human Rights.
Continue readingPublished by VHS, the new report shares insights from Scotland’s third sector.
Continue readingThe letter calls on the UK Government to take steps to fully incorporate economic, social and cultural rights in law.
Continue readingHave your say on what worked well, what barriers remain, and what changes are needed to improve accessible voting.
Continue readingResults will inform future guidance, resources and service improvements for people living with cancer.
Continue readingThe results of PIF’s survey give some cause for optimism – but equal cause for concern.
Continue readingLeadership programme for disabled adults and parents of disabled children open for applications.
Continue readingThis flash report provides a summary of activity and findings from the 2025/26 mental health and gambling harm projects in Scotland.
Continue readingJoin Wellbeing Scotland's board to drive lasting change for people impacted by child abuse.
Continue readingScotland’s health is dependent on dedicated action from new parliament, say ALLIANCE.
Continue readingChildren in Scotland launch their new report reflecting on the impact of GIRFEC over the past 20 years.
Continue readingThis month's Digital Citizen Panel Spotlight is Heriott-Watt University's Citizen Advisory Network.
Continue reading