Scottish Housing Regulator finds serious failings in Perth and Kinross Council Gypsy Traveller Sites

The Scottish Housing Regulator has found serious failings in Perth and Kinross Gypsy Traveller Accommodation sites, Double Dykes and Bobbin Mill.

It published the findings in an updated engagement plan for the Council.

Professor Angela O’Hagan, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, says:

“Cultural life for Scotland’s Gypsy Traveller community is a human right and is protected in international human rights law.

“Access to appropriate housing without discrimination is protected by several international human rights treaties to which the UK is a party, for example, the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

“The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as part of its review of the UK, said public authorities should ensure the provision of adequate and culturally appropriate accommodation for Gypsy, Traveller, and Roma communities.

“The Commission recently outlined our concerns on this issue to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as part of its recent review of the UK and the Committee has recommended that culturally appropriate accommodation and stopping sites including access to water, sanitisation and electricity.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission is therefore concerned by the findings of the Scottish Housing Regulator in relation to Double Dykes and Bobbin Mill. This is now the second time serious failing have been found by Scottish Housing Regulator in relation to accommodation of Gypsy Travellers living in Scotland.”

The Regulator's updated engagement plan for Perth and Kinross Council is available on its website at www.housingregulator.gov.scot.

The Commission is currently exploring the denial of the rights to cultural recognition of Scotland’s Gypsy Travellers and the impact on the community, past and present. Read more about this work on the Spotlight Projects page of our website at https://www.scottishhumanrights.com/projects-and-programmes/spotlight-projects/.

ENDS

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