ALLIANCE responds to the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape review
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 24th February 2025
Our response calls for a human rights based approach to outcomes, and to consider how to strengthen the SHRC.
The ALLIANCE have submitted a response to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee’s call for views. The Committee was established to review and develop a framework for SPCB supported bodies, which include a number of Commissioners such as the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Commissioner for Children and Young People. This follows an earlier inquiry by the Finance and Public Administration Committee that the ALLIANCE also responded to.
Whilst the ALLIANCE continues to support calls previously made for an Older People’s Commissioner and a Disabled People’s Commissioner, we are also aware of the significant number of proposals for Commissioners, and the concerns around resource, capacity and fragmentation.
Commissioners have an essential role to play in upholding and realising human rights. It is essential that Scotland’s Commissioner landscape is effective and accessible, and that Commissioners have adequate, appropriate resources and powers. In our response, the ALLIANCE recommend that:
- A human rights based approach should be taken to selecting, measuring and demonstrating outcomes.
- Scrutiny of rights-based Commissioners by the Scottish Parliament should extend beyond subject committees and engage the whole parliament in the discussion around human rights.
- Rights based Commissioners should have a consistent set of core powers relating to policy, investigations and legal interventions.
- The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in particular should be given an expanded remit and suite of powers, including the provision of legal advice, the right to raise proceedings in its own name, and to compel evidence.
- A “rapporteurship” model of group or rights specific Rapporteurs for the SHRC should be considered.
You can read the full response via the resource links below.
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