Human rights ‘under threat’ in rural communities

Human rights are devolved to Scotland, external by the Scotland Act 1998.

SHRC has made a number of recommendations to the Scottish parliament and Scottish government, including that urgent action should be taken to tackle homelessness, hunger and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Chairwoman Prof Angela O’Hagan said the commission was very concerned about the poor state of economic, social and cultural rights.

She said: “Too many people in Highland and Islands are hungry, homeless, without access to healthcare, and the basics for everyday life.

“With this work, we are piloting a new way of monitoring, one that brings the commission closer to communities and enhances their voices and struggles.

“While we continue to develop this way of working, we expect that all duty-bearers will reflect carefully on the evidence found in this report, and the action now required from them to meet their human rights obligations.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “We recognise the rights to food, housing and health and that is why we have taken action to advance human rights in practice now, as well as to prepare the public sector for new duties in the future in relation to the rights highlighted in the report.

“We believe that no-one should have to compromise on food or other essentials and have published a plan, grounded in human rights, to tackle this.”

They added that nine actions had been introduced to improve access to food and ensure fewer people need to turn to food parcels.

The spokesperson also said more than 10,000 affordable homes had been delivered across rural Scotland between April 2016 and March 2023.

And they said the formation of a National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care would support health and social care providers to establish long-term sustainable healthcare in rural and island areas.