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
Details of the next meeting are not available yet.
Dates for future meetings
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
Budget scrutiny 2026-2027: Accountability
Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill
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
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
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
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
Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill
Suicide Prevention Strategy
Correspondence
Correspondence
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
16 July 2025
Letter from Councillor Shona Morrison, President, COSLA, 16 July 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
30 June 2025
Letter from the Auditor General for Scotland and Audit Scotland, 30 June 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
26 June 2025
Letter from the Minister for Equalities re Committee question on the Sullivan Review recommendations, 26 June 2025
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Interests, Decision on Taking Business in Private, Post-legislative Scrutiny
Meeting date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, British Sign Language Inquiry, United Kingdom Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, British Sign Language Inquiry
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Civil Legal Aid Inquiry
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Civil Legal Aid Inquiry
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Civil Legal Aid Inquiry
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Motion to Remove a Member of the Committee, Decision on Taking Business in Private, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
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
Reports
Committee reports
A report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Borders Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Annual Report of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee for 2024-25
Annual Report of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 2024-25.
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.
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
Paul McLennan
Member
Scottish National Party
Marie McNair
Member
Scottish National Party
Paul O'Kane
Member
Scottish Labour
Tess White
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members