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

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

Other

Committee Legacy Report for Session 7
Annual report

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Budget scrutiny 2026-27

23 January 2026

Letter from BEMIS regarding the Equality and Human Rights Fund and budget scrutiny 2026 to 27, 23 January 2026

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2026-29

22 January 2026

Letter from the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, 22 January 2026

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Human Rights Bill for Scotland

13 January 2026

Letter from the Minister for Equalities, 13 January 2026

See all of this committee's correspondence

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Public Sector Equality Duty

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, British Sign Language Inquiry

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Human Rights Commission

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Human Rights, Equalities and Access to Services (Rural Areas)

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Human Rights, Equalities and Access to Services (Rural Areas)

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

Pre-Budget scrutiny 2026-27: Human Rights Budgeting

Published: 12 December 2025

A report of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on pre-budget scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s budget for 2026-27 focussing on human rights budgeting.

Stage 1 report on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill

Published: 19 November 2025

Stage 1 report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility)(Scotland) Bill.

Subordinate legislation considered by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 4 November 2025

Published: 05 November 2025

Report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on affirmative instruments relating to child contact services and on whether the instruments should be approved.

See all of this committee's reports

Work of the Committee: 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

Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members

Call for views

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee is not currently seeking views on any of its current inquiries

Find out more about giving views to committees

Get in touch

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

[email protected]

0131 348 5204

@SP_EHRCJ