Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 December 2013
10 Dec 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Human Rights
It is right to have the debate on this, the 65th anniversary of the signing of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. As the minister said, it is apposite to have it following the motion of condolence for Nelson Mandela. There is probably no finer embodiment of a person who values our fundamental human rights than him.
Human rights are often viewed in a silo and as a somewhat legalistic matter. As Alex Johnstone said, human rights are often viewed negatively—I am not sure whether his speech is likely to improve that perception, but perhaps we will leave that for another day. People often feel that human rights have little relevance to their lives, but that is not the case—they are important to us all.
The minister quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, who was fundamental to bringing into being “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. I will expand the quotation that was used. The minister started with:
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home—so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.”
Eleanor Roosevelt went on to say:
“Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination.”
In that context, the national action plan is very welcome.
We should probably also reflect on the fact that it is the first such action plan to be developed in the United Kingdom. Given that Parliament has a responsibility to ensure that our legislation is compatible with the ECHR, we must have a plan that sets out how we might achieve that. We must also set out in detail how we can get across to people the fact that human rights are relevant to them.
I have not been able to read the plan in detail, although I will do so, but it is clear from its methodology and what is planned that it is about trying to create a participative process that brings human rights alive for people. It has been welcomed outside Parliament. Amnesty International tells us that it was asked to participate in the development of the plan, that it welcomes its publication and that it looks forward to working with others to implement the outcomes that it believes
“have the potential to deliver real and meaningful improvements to the lives of those who live and work in Scotland.”
I should declare an interest as a member of Amnesty International and in the fact that my wife works for the organisation and wrote the excellent briefing from which I have just quoted. The Scottish Human Rights Commission, the chair of which also chaired the team that pulled the plan together, talks about implementation of the plan being
“a process of culture change: unlocking the transformative potential of human rights in all areas of our lives.”
We might expect those organisations to welcome the plan, but we also received a number of briefings from other organisations. The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland talks about how human rights are important in the area that it works in. Inclusion Scotland talks about how human rights are important for it and how disabled people self-define independent living as the
“rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society and live an ordinary life.”
I was surprised to get a briefing from Community Land Scotland, which talks about the relevance of human rights to land ownership. The fact that those organisations are involved in thinking about how the national action plan can interact with their areas of interest demonstrates that the plan is not going to exist in the silo that I spoke of earlier.
I very much welcome the fact that the plan has been published today and look forward to its being put into practice in better embedding a human rights culture in Scotland. I hope that it is a subject to which we can return to debate in the chamber in the future.
15:07
Human rights are often viewed in a silo and as a somewhat legalistic matter. As Alex Johnstone said, human rights are often viewed negatively—I am not sure whether his speech is likely to improve that perception, but perhaps we will leave that for another day. People often feel that human rights have little relevance to their lives, but that is not the case—they are important to us all.
The minister quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, who was fundamental to bringing into being “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. I will expand the quotation that was used. The minister started with:
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home—so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.”
Eleanor Roosevelt went on to say:
“Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination.”
In that context, the national action plan is very welcome.
We should probably also reflect on the fact that it is the first such action plan to be developed in the United Kingdom. Given that Parliament has a responsibility to ensure that our legislation is compatible with the ECHR, we must have a plan that sets out how we might achieve that. We must also set out in detail how we can get across to people the fact that human rights are relevant to them.
I have not been able to read the plan in detail, although I will do so, but it is clear from its methodology and what is planned that it is about trying to create a participative process that brings human rights alive for people. It has been welcomed outside Parliament. Amnesty International tells us that it was asked to participate in the development of the plan, that it welcomes its publication and that it looks forward to working with others to implement the outcomes that it believes
“have the potential to deliver real and meaningful improvements to the lives of those who live and work in Scotland.”
I should declare an interest as a member of Amnesty International and in the fact that my wife works for the organisation and wrote the excellent briefing from which I have just quoted. The Scottish Human Rights Commission, the chair of which also chaired the team that pulled the plan together, talks about implementation of the plan being
“a process of culture change: unlocking the transformative potential of human rights in all areas of our lives.”
We might expect those organisations to welcome the plan, but we also received a number of briefings from other organisations. The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland talks about how human rights are important in the area that it works in. Inclusion Scotland talks about how human rights are important for it and how disabled people self-define independent living as the
“rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society and live an ordinary life.”
I was surprised to get a briefing from Community Land Scotland, which talks about the relevance of human rights to land ownership. The fact that those organisations are involved in thinking about how the national action plan can interact with their areas of interest demonstrates that the plan is not going to exist in the silo that I spoke of earlier.
I very much welcome the fact that the plan has been published today and look forward to its being put into practice in better embedding a human rights culture in Scotland. I hope that it is a subject to which we can return to debate in the chamber in the future.
15:07
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08544, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on human rights.14:38
The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs (Roseanna Cunningham)
SNP
Today marks the launch of “Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights: 2013-2017”—Scotland’s first national action plan for human rights—and I am delig...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I ask the minister for clarification on that point. Would an independent Scotland take the Human Rights Act 1998 and embed it in the Scottish constitution or...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
We would be looking at exactly the kinds of rights that most countries in Europe and the wider world regard as human rights. I do not want to disappoint Jenn...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Would the minister care to commend Mary Robinson—who is a former President of a small country: Ireland—for her significant contribution to human rights in re...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I am sure that Stewart Stevenson would expect me to endorse that, as I have met Mary Robinson and know the huge impact that she had internationally—not just ...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is particularly appropriate that we gather in the chamber today on international human rights day, and on a day that is marked by such a momentous occasio...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Jenny Marra for taking an intervention. I know of her interest in the subject. When I was a member of the Equal Opportunities Committee we inquired i...
Jenny Marra
Lab
I got the numbers from the Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson, who said just a few weeks ago in the chamber that 3,000 women are at risk in Scotlan...
Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
I think that everybody will agree with what Jenny Marra said about the crime that she has described. However, forced marriages are still happening in Scotlan...
Jenny Marra
Lab
Presiding Officer, can I have a little more time to address that?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I will tell you when you should stop.
Jenny Marra
Lab
Thank you.We have lodged our amendment because I do not believe that FGM is specifically mentioned in the human rights strategy and, given recent press repor...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the publication of the national action plan for human rights. There is certainly a strong element of consensus on the topic across the chamber and—...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
About 15 years ago, the Northern Constabulary issued a book to young people about knowing your rights when dealing with the police. Is it not a positive thin...
Alex Johnstone
Con
It is, of course, positive that that sort of thing happens, but we must remember that we have to take the public along with us. If we concentrate merely on t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Conclude, please, Mr Johnstone.
Alex Johnstone
Con
As we come to the end of the opening speeches, I look forward to an in-depth discussion about the action plan, and to summing up at the end of the debate.15:03
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
It is right to have the debate on this, the 65th anniversary of the signing of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. As the minister said, it is appos...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
It is particularly important that we are debating Scotland’s first human rights action plan on international human rights day and the day on which we remembe...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
I join colleagues in celebrating international human rights day and in welcoming the publication of Scotland’s national action plan on human rights. I pay tr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I remind members to use full names when they are referring to colleagues.15:15
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
First, I congratulate the Scottish Human Rights Commission on the publication of its national action plan. It is significant that it had Scottish Government ...
Alex Johnstone
Con
It should be made clear that in what has been an interesting if short debate we will not have time to raise a number of points. Nevertheless, as John Finnie ...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to close for Scottish Labour in this short but important debate on Scotland’s national action plan for human rights and concur with members’ com...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before I call Roseanna Cunningham to respond to the debate, I advise members that this afternoon’s debates are on a follow-on basis. I remind members who wis...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
It is amazing how wide a variety of views can be encompassed even in a short debate such as this. Practically all the speeches have been constructive in addr...
Jenny Marra
Lab
Will the minister commit to voting tonight for a strategy on female genital mutilation?
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I will come to the Labour amendment later in my speech.The Government has enjoyed a productive, constructive relationship with the commission on a wide range...
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
I am very sorry to hear what the minister is saying. Does she understand that Jenny Marra’s addendum accepts all the wording of the minister’s motion, but th...