Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
The Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on:
- equal opportunities matters
- human rights matters
- civil justice matters including debt, evictions and family law
Next meeting of the committee
Start time:
9:30am, Tuesday 29 April 2025
Location: T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room
Agenda:
- Motion to remove a member of the Committee
- Decision on taking business in private
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- For Women Scotland Ltd (Appellant) v The Scottish Ministers (Respondent)
- Civil Legal Aid Inquiry (in private)
Future meetings of the committee
The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee usually meets weekly on Tuesdays.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 Inquiry
Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill
Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill
HIV treatment and awareness in Scotland
Inquiry into the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland
Legal aid
Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Completed work
Asylum Seekers in Scotland
Budget scrutiny 2023/24 (The Impact of Human Rights Budgeting)
Budget scrutiny 2024/25 (The impact of the Scottish Budget on the public)
Budget scrutiny 2025-2026: Transparency
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Gender Representation on Public Boards (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Inquiry into Women's Unfair Responsibility for Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill
Minimum Core Obligations
PE1787 The use of Makaton sign language in the legal system
PE1817 End Conversion Therapy
Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022/23
Suicide Prevention Strategy
Correspondence
Correspondence
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
25 April 2025
Letter to the Convener from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 25 April 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
24 April 2025
Letter to the Convener from the Equality Network and Scottish Trans, 24 April 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
24 April 2025
Letter to the Convener from For Women Scotland Ltd, 24 April 2025
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Public Sector Equality Duty
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Public Sector Equality Duty
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Public Sector Equality Duty
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Subordinate Legislation, Budget 2025-26
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Post-legislative Scrutiny
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Interests, Decision on Taking Business in Private, Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill
Reports
Committee reports
Stage 1 Report on the Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill
A Stage 1 report from the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on the Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill.
Report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on affirmative instruments and on whether the instruments should be approved.
Report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on a suite of six negative Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) relating to increases in fees payable across the Courts and the Office of the Public Guardian and on whether any of the instruments should be annulled. Elena Whitham acted as subsitute for Evelyn Tweed at this meeting.
Committee Remit
To consider and report on the following (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A)—
a. matters relating to equal opportunities, and upon the observance of equal opportunities within the Parliament; and
b. matters relating to human rights.
c. matters relating to civil justice within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs.
2. In these Rules
(a) “equal opportunities” includes the prevention, elimination or regulation of discrimination between persons on grounds of sex or marital status, on racial grounds or on grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, language or social origin or of other personal attributes, including beliefs or opinions such as religious beliefs or political opinions; and
(b) “human rights” includes Convention rights (within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998) and other human rights as for example contained in any international convention, treaty or other international instrument ratified by the United Kingdom.
Current Members
Karen Adam
Convener
Scottish National Party
Maggie Chapman
Deputy Convener
Scottish Green Party
Dr Pam Gosal MBE
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Marie McNair
Member
Scottish National Party
Paul O'Kane
Member
Scottish Labour
Evelyn Tweed
Member
Scottish National Party
Tess White
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members