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Chamber and committees

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: 10:00am, Tuesday 01 April 2025

Location: T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room

Agenda:

  1. Decision on taking business in private
  2. Scottish Human Rights Commission
  3. Scottish Human Rights Commission
  4. British Sign Language Inquiry
  5. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
  6. EU Law Tracker
  7. Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland (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

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Current work

Completed work

Correspondence

Correspondence

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019

25 March 2025

Letter from the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, 25 March 2025

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland

20 March 2025

Letter from Vic Valentine, Scottish Trans Manager, Equality Network, 20 March 2025

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Suicide Prevention Strategy

20 March 2025

Joint letter from the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport and COSLA, 20 March 2025

Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

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, 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

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill

Reports

Committee reports

10 December 2024

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.

30 October 2024

Subordinate Legislation considered by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 29 October 2024

Report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on affirmative instruments and on whether the instruments should be approved.

09 October 2024

Subordinate Legislation considered by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 8 October 2024

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

A photo of Karen Adam MSP

Karen Adam

Convener
Scottish National Party
A photo of Maggie Chapman MSP

Maggie Chapman

Deputy Convener
Scottish Green Party
A photo of Dr Pam Gosal MBE MSP

Dr Pam Gosal MBE

Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
A photo of Marie McNair MSP

Marie McNair

Member
Scottish National Party
A photo of Paul O'Kane MSP

Paul O'Kane

Member
Scottish Labour
A photo of Evelyn Tweed MSP

Evelyn Tweed

Member
Scottish National Party
A photo of Tess White MSP

Tess White

Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members

Call for views

When a committee launches an inquiry, or starts looking at a bill, they may ask individuals or organisations to submit their views. This is called a ‘call for views’.

Legal Aid Inquiry

Closing date: 17 April 2025

Get in touch

If you want to get in touch, you can contact Euan Donald, the Clerk for the committee.