The Scottish Human Rights Commission is Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution. 

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has celebrated its work over the past year as the new chair takes office. 

The Commission has laid its annual report for 2023-24 before the Scottish Parliament, outlining work to engage with people’s lived experiences of human rights, including a series of spotlight projects focused on monitoring and reporting to deliver improved accountability across Scotland.

The Commission’s work this year included meeting with more than 140 people in the Highlands and Islands, to explore human rights concerns in areas such as healthcare, housing and transport.

They also collaborated with human rights defenders to call for faster progress toward independent living for people with learning disabilities held in institutions.

As Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution, the Commission also delivered major reports measuring Scotland’s progress on human rights to international treaty bodies such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe.  

They also delivered a major report on places of detention in Scotland, assessing 29 human rights recommendations and finding the majority of them have not been met.

The Commission continued to fulfil its mandate to promote and protect human rights across Scotland in other ways, including carrying out its own research and providing expert evidence. 

 Professor Angela O’Hagan, the new chair of the Commission, said: “Our 2023-24 Annual Report is a snapshot of the work and impact of the Scottish Human Rights Commission.

"I am delighted to have joined the Commission at this time, with a clear direction from our new Strategic Plan, and strong evidence base from our spotlight research series.

"Working with members of the Commission, the staff team and all our stakeholders, the SHRC is committed to realising rights for all in Scotland.”