Tag: Scottish Human Rights Bill

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie: Scottish Government must rethink dropping healthy environment right from Human Rights Bill

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Sanne Dijkstra-Downie has urged the Scottish Government to rethink its decision to exclude the right to a healthy environment from its future Human Rights Bill.

Minister for Equalities, Simita Kumar, said that the government will “not include a standalone right to a healthy environment in the future Human Rights Bill.”

The right is about making sure people have access to clean air, a safe climate, safe water and adequate sanitation, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environments in which to live, work, study and play, and healthy biodiversity and ecosystems.

Recognising this right was a key recommendation of the Scottish Government’s National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership in 2021. 

In 2023, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice said that legislating for this right was a  “necessary and important step for Scotland now to take”.

In their manifesto, Scottish Liberal Democrats committed to recognising everyone’s human right to a healthy environment.  

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Northern and party spokesperson for the environment Sanne Dijkstra-Downie said: “I am deeply disappointed to see that the Scottish Government is withholding such a fundamental human right.

“Everybody deserves access to clean air, safe water and sanitation, as well as a stable climate. Without these protections, people are exposed to severe physical illnesses, mental health struggles, and long-term societal damage ranging from toxic chemical and radiation exposure to deepening food insecurity.

“As Scotland faces a surge in energy-intensive infrastructure, including the proposed development of massive data centres and chip-manufacturing plants, it is more vital than ever to establish robust legal frameworks that safeguard our environment and protect future generations.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats remain fully committed to high environmental standards by recognising everyone’s human right to a healthy environment.

“We are determined to work closely with our European neighbours, rather than falling behind international best practice.”

Targeted action needed to ensure rural access to services, opportunities and rights, says Holyrood committee

Rural communities continue to face barriers that limit access to essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport, according to a new report from Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

A shortage of affordable housing and adequate infrastructure, combined with a higher than average cost of living, were also found to pose significant challenges to the sustainability of rural communities.

The Committee’s report calls for targeted action to be taken to ensure that these communities are able to fully access their rights. The Committee want to see the Scottish Government recognise the distinct needs of different rural areas, consider rural populations throughout all stages of policymaking, and factor the findings of the report into a future Scottish Human Rights Bill.

While the Scottish Government acknowledged the issues raised during the Committee’s inquiry and highlighted the work it is doing, the Committee’s report says that this has yet to translate into sufficient improvements in the lives of people living in rural areas.

The report backs calls for the Government to carry out multi-year engagement with, and investment in, community-led organisations. The potential of these organisations, who are often best placed to understand local need and design effective solutions, appears to the Committee not to be currently being used to its full potential.

The report also highlights concerns over rural housing shortages. The shortage undermines workforce recruitment, drives depopulation and restricts the ability of young people to remain in their communities. It calls on the Government to provide an update on what it is doing to improve the situation.

The Committee also heard about barriers to health that were created by distance and travel costs. In its report it calls for urgent action to be taken to address the centralisation of essential health services, such as those relating to maternity in regions such as the Highlands.

Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “Rural communities deserve equitable access to services, opportunities and rights and often face greater financial challenges than urban areas of Scotland.

“During this inquiry rural people clearly told us that they cannot access essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport.

“We want to see the Scottish Government build on its work to date by undertaking targeted action to deliver better access to services and combat the rural premium.”

Read the Committee’s report