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
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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
Inquiry into the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland
Legal aid
Neurodivergence in Scotland
Rurality
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
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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
Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Gender Representation on Public Boards (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
HIV treatment and awareness in Scotland
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
Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025: update on implementation
19 February 2026
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, 19 February 2026
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
16 February 2026
Note on terminology from STAND - Stronger Together for Autism and Neurodivergence, 16 February 2026
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
12 February 2026
Written submission from Dyslexia Scotland, 12 February 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Interests, Decision on Taking Business in Private, Post-legislative Scrutiny
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, British Sign Language Inquiry, United Kingdom Subordinate Legislation
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, British Sign Language Inquiry
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Civil Legal Aid Inquiry
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Civil Legal Aid Inquiry
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Civil Legal Aid Inquiry
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Motion to Remove a Member of the Committee, Decision on Taking Business in Private, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Reports
Committee reports
Published: 24 February 2026
Report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on an affirmative instrument relating to Legal Aid and on whether the instrument should be approved.
Report on Human rights, equalities and access to services in rural areas of Scotland
Published: 20 February 2026
Published: 04 February 2026
Report by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on affirmative instruments and on whether the instruments should be approved.
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.
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Maggie Chapman
Deputy Convener
Scottish Green Party
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members