Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

The Committee considers its work programme regularly to maintain a rolling programme of business. The Committee's planned business is noted below.  Please note that it is subject to change.

For further details or questions, please contact the Clerks to the Committee on [email protected]

Legislation currently under consideration

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee concluded holding evidence sessions and published its Stage 1 report on 19 November 2025. The Stage 1 Debate was held in the Chamber on Tuesday 25 November.  The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2 at its meeting on Tuesday 16 December.

Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill: The Committee issued a call for views on the Bill and has agreed to do nothing further on the Bill at this time.

Inquiries

• Budget scrutiny 2026-2027, focussing on accountability and progress on previous recommendations made by the Committee during this Parliamentary session
• evidence on the Committee’s published report ‘The Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland
• the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• the impact of rural inequalities
• neurodivergence in Scotland
• the impact of domestic violence on deaf women
• the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s expected revised Code of Practice following the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers
• update on the Scottish Government’s Ending HIV transmission in Scotland by 2030 delivery plan
• update on the Scottish Government’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan – ‘Creating Hope Together’
• Committee Legacy Report for Session 7

Correspondence

See all of this committee's correspondence

Official Reports of meetings

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Committee reports

See all of this committee's reports

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.