Introduction to the Commission
Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Professor Alan Miller, describes the mandate and powers given to the Commission by the Scottish Parliament.
Welcome to the Scottish Human Rights Commission. My name is Alan Miller, I was elected by the Scottish Parliament here, to become the first Chair of the newly created Scottish Human Rights Commission.
My hope for the Commission is that it comes to be valued by all of you in Scotland, that we are seen as being someone who can help promote and protect the human rights of all of you and that we can get to know each other and get to work with each other in the years to come. That all of us can help build a fair Scotland, an outward looking Scotland, in which human dignity, participation and accountability are at the heart of all progress that we strive to make in Scotland.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission was established by a law which was passed by the Scottish Parliament right here and, on the 10th of December 2008, the Commission started its life. The Parliament basically wants us to promote a human rights culture in Scotland for everyone and the powers that we have been given to try and bring that about are; we can conduct legal enquiries where we think there is something seriously wrong with the state of human rights in Scotland; we can intervene in court cases where we think there is a public interest and we’ve also to develop best practice of actually using human rights in order to bring about progress for everyone in contemporary Scotland.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission is one of over 80 similar bodies around the world which is coordinated by the United Nations. And all of which are based on the promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We want to help build a Scotland along with everyone in Scotland which is building on the sense of fairness that we all share in Scotland, builds on the support of human dignity that we all share with each other in Scotland, but to try and make them more effective and to bring them to life, and to make sure that everyone is treated fairly, whether you’re at school, in the workplace, or in a care home for older persons. That when something is decided that is going to impact on you, then your dignity and your rights should be taken into account and ensure that they are respected when that kind of decision is made.
10 Wee Commandments
The Commission supported the filming and production of a series of short films made by young people about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Introducing Dignity in Care
Legal Officer for the Commission, Kavita Chetty, explains the importance of Dignity in Care for the Commission's strategic work and outlines how Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights can be interpreted to help protect and promote human dignity.
Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson address the Human Rights and Climate Change conference, Glasgow Science Centre, 23 November 2009
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part seven
Albie Sachs discusses interventions from third parties and civil society groups in court cases and how judges exercise proportionality in considering fundamental human rights.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part six
Justice Albie Sachs discusses due process and the prohibition against cruel and degrading treatment.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part five
Justice Albie Sachs and Professor Alan Miller discuss constitutionalism and potential threats to the Human Rights Act in the UK.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part four
Albie Sachs comments on secrecy of information and setting up public enquiries. His young son, Oliver, can be heard in the background.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part three
Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Professor Alan Miller, responds to Alibe Sachs talking about human dignity and proportionality when he spoke at the UK and Irish gathering of national human rights institutions in Edinburgh, June 2009.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part two
Justice Sachs reads from his book entitled 'The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law' and reflects upon the trademark case known as the 'Laugh it Off' case that came before him as a jude at the South African Constitutional Court.
In Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs, part one
"We are delighted to now share with you the experience of spending time “In conversation with Justice Albie Sachs”. Professor Alan MillerChair, Scottish Human Rights Commission”