Scottish government offers support to Liberty human rights campaign

The campaign aims to broaden understanding and respect for human rights and counter the damaging myths and misunderstandings that have grown around it.

Social justice and communities secretary Alex Neil (pictured) is today meeting with Liberty’s director Shami Chakrabarti to discuss the importance of and threats to the Human Right Act 1998.

Mr Neil said: “The Scottish government has every confidence in and support for the Human Rights Act, indeed in our opinion the Act should enjoy the unequivocal backing of all those who are committed to upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

“In Scotland we are rightly proud of our stance on human rights, and have taken a distinctive approach in how we meet our international human rights commitments.

“We believe everyone in our society should be treated with the same core values and standards. The Human Rights Act is hardwired into our DNA and we find any attempts to undermine it in any way to be abhorrent.

“We are fully committed to the creation of a modern, inclusive Scotland which protects, respects and realises internationally recognised human rights and are proud to stand with Liberty in defence of the Act.”

Liberty says Conservative plans to repeal HRA would diminish the rights of everyone in the UK, in particular vulnerable minority groups, and make Government less accountable.

Ms Chakrabarti said: “Voltaire said ‘we look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation’ - 300 years on and it leads the country in its commitment to human rights.

“The Scottish government’s support for our common values campaign should shame those who would use our rights and freedoms as a political football.”