Joint letter urges First Minister to prioritise Human Rights Bill in new parliament
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 22nd May 2026
The letter also calls on the Scottish Government to appoint a dedicated Cabinet Secretary for Human Rights.
The ALLIANCE has joined 42 other organisations, led by the Human Rights Consortium Scotland (HRCS) in writing to the First Minister John Swinney urging him to put human rights at the centre of his programme for the first year of the new parliament.
During the election, the SNP committed in their manifesto to bringing forward a Human Rights Bill for Scotland. The proposed Bill would incorporate key international human rights treaties into Scots law, alongside a new right to a healthy environment. We argue that this legislation would be transformative in strengthening protections, particularly for people experiencing poverty, discrimination and exclusion.
We therefore call on the First Minister to commit to the bill in his first programme for government following the election, and to ensure the bill is introduced within the first year.
The letter also calls for the establishment of a dedicated Cabinet Minister for Human Rights, with responsibility for leading and coordinating human rights policy across government. Human rights are often simply included within broader equalities portfolios, and a dedicated ministerial role would provide the focus, visibility and leadership needed to drive progress.
You can read the full letter on the HRCS website here.
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