Last week the Scottish Government chose to drop its promise of introducing a new Human Rights Bill.
Yesterday we joined over 100 organisations in expressing our disappointment in the Scottish government, as we believe that this bill is a crucial step in addressing the severe breaches in human rights we see every day.
Why is this bill so important?
As an organisation, we receive dozens of enquiries per week from young people and their families in crises and desperate need of legal help. Last month we hit a new record with over 300 people reaching out to our service. Unfortunately, we expect this number to continue rising.
By introducing this bill, the Scottish Government could make human rights not just a concept, but an actual legal route that people can use when things go wrong.
Addressing the gaps in Scotland’s human rights
Human rights are not just an idea, they are a real solution to the issues people face today. This bill is a vital step in making those rights a tangible option. The cost-of-living crisis and ensuing poverty, combined with a broken Legal Aid system, has meant that fewer families can access justice.
We heard from one person who contacted 32 different law firms and was not able to secure a solicitor to advise and represent them. This is not a one-off case; every day people are writing to us in desperation because they cannot get legal advice anywhere else.
It is difficult to put into words what this looks like for a small team of four people. We have now had to adapt our service to help those families who are acting as their own legal representatives, offering whatever support we can from reviewing court documents to helping people prepare for Child Welfare Hearings.
We urgently need the Scottish Government to implement the strategies and practices necessary to realise all children’s rights across Scotland. It is not enough for a government to say that it believes in human rights, it must also make this a reality by implementing this bill.
In the meantime, we will continue to support the children and families who need us most in every way we can.
Click here to read the joint statement on Human Rights Consortium Scotland’s website.