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Help with human rights in Scotland

The role of the Commission is to promote and protect human rights in Scotland, but we are not allowed to take on any individual cases, assist with individual claims or assist with individual legal proceedings.

Why can’t the Commission take on individual cases?

The legislation which created the Commission restricts us from taking on individual cases. You can read the Act online.

I need help with a human rights case - who should I contact?

  • If you need legal advice the Law Society of Scotland has a list of lawyers in your area, or you can call 0131 226 7411 and ask for ‘Records’.

  • There are also a number of Community Law Centres in Scotland. Community law centres are charities which can take on cases connected with social welfare, housing issues, immigration and refugees, debt, mental health and discrimination laws.

  • Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is responsible for managing legal aid in Scotland. The helpline number for the Scottish Legal Aid Board is 0845 122 8686. It is open 7 days a week, 7am to 11pm.

  • If you need help on an equality or discrimination issue you can contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The EHRC also has a helpline which you can call on 0845 604 5510. The helpline is open Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

  • The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) is responsible for regulating healthcare in Scotland. They can help with complaints about care services in Scotland. Their helpline number is 0845 603 0890.

  • The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an independent organisation working to safeguard the rights and welfare of everyone with a mental illness, learning disability or other mental disorder. Their staff and Commissioners have worked in healthcare, social work, advocacy or the law. Some are carers or have experience as users of mental health and learning disability services. If you are a service user or carer you can contact the advice line: 0800 389 6809 (for RNID relay assist call 18001 0800 369 6809) which is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4.30pm or by email at enquiries@mwcscot.org.uk

  • If you need advice on issues such as money and bills, family breakup, employment, benefits, tax or legal issues, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Your local Bureau is listed in the phone book. You can also call the national helpline, Citizen’s Advice Direct, on 0844 848 9600 for free, confidential advice on any matter, Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm and Saturday 10am - 2pm. Calls from BT landlines cost 5p per minute. Calls from mobile may cost more.  You can also seek email advice from Citizens Advice Direct via a form on the above website (note - 80% of people who work in the CAB are volunteers – if you are interested in finding out more about becoming a CAB adviser, contact them today to discuss this.)

  • The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) is the final stage for complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland. The SPSO deal with complaints about councils, the National Health Service, housing associations, the Scottish Government and its agencies and departments, colleges and universities and most Scottish public bodies. Complaints are normally only considered after they have been through the formal complaints process of the organisation concerned. Email the SPSO ask@spso.org.uk or call 0800 377 7330.

  • The Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland considers and reviews the way police authorities, police forces and policing agencies handle complaints from the public. This service is free and independent.  You can contact the office of the Commissioner on 0808 178 5577, or send an email to enquiries@pcc-scotland.org. There is also more information and advice on how to make a complaint on the Scottish Government website.

  • The Ethnic Minorities Law Centre provides a free independent legal advice, information and representation service to BME communities in a bilingual and culturally sensitive setting. There are offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh and they specialise in the fields of immigration and nationality, asylum, employment and all strands of discrimination law. The centre has two offices: 41 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2ER, on 0141204 2888 or send an email to admin@emlc.org.uk, or in Edinburgh at 103-105 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BX, on 0131 229 2038 or by email edinburgh@emlc.org.uk.

  • The Scottish Refugee Council is an independent charity dedicated to providing advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees living in Scotland.

The Commission also works closely with some other organisations that may be able to help you: 

  • Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people in Scotland. Children and young people can contact SCCYP for advice on issues where they do not feel their rights are being respected. There is a children and young people’s freephone number: 0800 019 1179 or email inbox@sccyp.org.uk.  

  • The Scottish Information Commissioner can help with Freedom of Information requests to Scottish public authorities.

  • The Commission will also be working to develop a human rights framework that will support the Scottish Government's work on the Acknowledgement and Accountability Forum for adult survivors of child abuse. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual abuse you can contact the In Care Survivors Service Scotland throught their website or call the free helpline: 0800 121 6027.