Letter to Cabinet Secretary for Justice on rights of people in detention during COVID-19 outbreak
The Scottish members of the UK National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) have today written to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Humza Yousaf MSP, highlighting the vital importance of efforts to uphold the rights of people in detention and deprived of their liberty during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Read the letter on the NPM website.
The letter is co-signed by Judith Robertson, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, acting in her capacity as Chair of the UK NPM Scottish Subgroup, and John Wadham, Chair of the NPM.
The letter has been sent on behalf of the Scottish members of the UK NPM:
- Care Inspectorate
- Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland
- Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
- Independent Custody Visitors Scotland
- Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
- Scottish Human Rights Commission
The UK NPM was established in 2009 after the UK ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). It is made up of 21 statutory bodies that independently monitor places of detention. For more information see https://www.nationalpreventivemechanism.org.uk/.
Judith Robertson, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, was appointed as Chair of the UK NPM Scottish Subgroup in March 2020. See http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/news/commission-takes-on-new-role-as-chair-of-scottish-npm-sub-group/.
ENDS