Professor Angela O’Hagan

The commission’s work this year included meeting with more than 140 people in the Highlands and Islands, to explore human rights concerns in areas such as healthcare, housing and transport.

It also collaborated with human rights defenders to call for faster progress toward independent living for people with learning disabilities held in institutions.

It delivered a major report on places of detention in Scotland, assessing 29 human rights recommendations and finding the majority of them have not been met.

The commission said it continued to fulfil its mandate to promote and protect human rights across Scotland in other ways in 2023-24, including:

• new research into attitudes to human rights in Scotland;
• calling for improved access to justice for human rights, in a major report and in ongoing research;
• a public consultation on its Strategic Plan 2024-28;
• research, fieldwork, engagement and participation work on its new Spotlight projects, designed to shine a light on key human rights issues in Scotland; and
• presenting written and oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament on themes such as human rights within social care and human rights budgeting.

Professor Angela O’Hagan, chair of the commission, said: “Our 2023-24 Annual Report is a snapshot of the work and impact of the Scottish Human Rights Commission.

“I am delighted to have joined the Commission at this time, with a clear direction from our new Strategic Plan, and strong evidence base from our spotlight research series.

“Working with members of the Commission, the staff team and all our stakeholders, the SHRC is committed to realising rights for all in Scotland”.