Commission extends spotlight focus on human rights across the Highlands and Islands
The Scottish Human Rights Commission is extending its work to find out how human rights are being experienced across the Highlands and Islands. The Commission wants to understand the human rights issues affecting people in these rural areas and launched the project in October.
During our fact-finding visits we have been approached by a high number of organisations, human rights defenders and community representatives across the Highlands and Islands who are concerned about their rights.
The Commission has therefore taken the decision to extend our locations and community visits to ensure we are collecting sufficient and widespread data across the region.
You can find out more details about the launch of the project.
New community visits
The Commission will be visiting the following places on the extra dates indicated below and will be speaking to voluntary organisations and community organisations who are interested in sharing concerns affecting people’s rights in the area.
Fort William, Lochaber, on Thursday 23 November 2023
Oban, Argyll and Bute, on Friday 24 November 2023
Lairg, Sutherland, on Wednesday 29 November 2023
Lochinver, Sutherland, on Thursday 30 November 2023
Ullapool, Ross, on Thursday 30 November 2023
Tongue, Sutherland, on Friday 1 December 2023
Luis Felipe Yanes, Highlands and Islands Project Lead, at the Scottish Human Rights Commission, says:
“We are gathering more evidence for our project on economic, social and cultural rights in the Highlands and Islands, looking at issues such as fuel poverty, digital poverty and problems accessing decent food, clothing, housing and healthcare.
“We are listening carefully to different communities and due to a high level of engagement we are extending our visits with new dates in Lochaber, Argyll and Bute, Ross, and Sutherland.
“Over the past few years, the Commission has become increasingly concerned about these issues in the Highlands and Islands and particularly how little information is available to monitor human rights in this part of Scotland.
“We are now travelling to meet with third sector organisations, community representatives and MSPs in a series of face-to-face meetings to learn more, and we have already spoken to some organisations doing critical work to fill in the gaps left by lack of sufficient services. We’ll be publishing our report on human rights in the Highlands and Islands next year.”
For media enquiries please contact: Judy Fladmark 07880 398530 judy.fladmark@scottishhumanrights.com or media@scottishhumanrights.com.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- As Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution, mandated to monitor human right in the country, the Commission will use this opportunity to report on what is happening to people’s economic, social and cultural rights in the Highlands and Islands.
- By using the power conferred to the Commission in section 4(1)(b) in the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006, we will be presenting a report to Parliament and issuing a series of recommendations in Spring 2024.
- You can keep up to date with our work in the Highlands and Islands by following us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook, and by visiting the News page of the Commission’s website at www.scottishhumanrights.com.