Human rights and disabilities in Scotland - Blog 1

Welcome to SBH Scotland's blog series on human rights! Today, we're going to dive into the world of human rights and how they apply to individuals living with disabilities, such as spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, in Scotland.

What are human rights?

Human rights have become a widely discussed topic by many over the last decade or so. They are often discussed by politicians, journalists, healthcare professionals and more as a tool to protect people from harm. But, what are human rights? And what do they actually mean for individuals?

• Human rights, as defined by the United Nations (a global international organisation), are rights all human beings have, regardless of their gender, race, nationality, or any other status. These include…

These rights, which every human being is entitled to without discrimination, include fundamental rights, such as the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and many more.

Remember:

• Everyone is entitled to basic fundamental rights
• Entitled to these rights from birth
• Equal and universal to all in the UK

“Human Rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were long before they drafted their first proclamation”

- Mary Robinson

To protect the human rights for all, we all have the responsibility to respect the rights of others by acting with kindness, having empathy for others and following laws which protect us all.

International Human Rights

Before 1945, human rights where largely a matter of domestic law (laws, rules and regulations set out by a certain country) put in place by the UK Parliament. However, human rights are also now implemented and protected at an international level, which provides individuals and groups of people with even more protection. This is done through creation of international human rights treaties (that the UK is a party to) like the European Convention on Human Rights.

The direct result of this, is that there is now a large body of human rights laws protecting human rights at national and international levels.

Countries can chose to make these treaties law in their country if they believe it will help protect their citizens. For example, the Human Rights Act 1998 was brought into law in the UK to uphold the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Scotland, as a devolved nation, has the power to bring in international treaties into domestic law if it chooses. This is what Scotland is trying to do with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which you make have seen on the news in the past year.

Examples of international treaties protecting citizens human rights include:

• The European Convention on Human Rights
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Geneva Convention
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Remember:

• Human rights can be protected at the national (domestic) level
• Human rights can also be protected at the international level

Why are human rights in the UK a useful tool?

Having knowledge about your rights can help you speak on behalf of others, and for yourself.

They can help you ensure you receive what you are entitled to without discrimination.

There are specific laws and policies in place which can help to protect people’s rights in Scotland. Knowledge of these laws can be a great tool for individuals.

Remember:

• Knowledge of rights empowers you
• Knowledge of rights allows you to advocate for yourself and others

Stay tuned for our next blog when we explore Human Rights further. If you have a particular interest in this subject matter and would like to explore further please email Iona Campbell

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