A new Centre of Expertise in Equality and Human Rights to put
human rights and equality at the heart of economic policy
development is being established.
The Centre, an action from Scotland’s National Strategy for
Economic Transformation, will see government working with leading
experts to build knowledge and skills among policy officials to
address injustice and economic inequality.
Economy Secretary said:
“Our vision for Scotland is to create a wellbeing economy where
our society is thriving economically, socially and
environmentally, and in which we deliver prosperity for all
Scotland’s people and places.
“By focusing on wellbeing and fair work, we can deliver higher
rates of employment and wage growth, to reduce poverty -
particularly child poverty - and improve health and quality of
life for disadvantaged families and communities.
“The Centre of Expertise in Equality and Human Rights will
advance our understanding of how equality and human rights should
influence the economic policy-making process. This includes work
in areas to remove barriers to employment for disabled people,
women, those with care experience and minority ethnic groups
while also tackling poverty through fair pay and
conditions.
“Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation
identified challenges to overcoming inequality across the
economy, but also opportunities to build a fairer and more equal
society with opportunities for all to succeed.”
The Scottish Government will develop the centre in partnership
with stakeholders such as Inclusion Scotland.
Senior policy advisor at Inclusion Scotland Bill Scott said:
“This new centre is an exciting development which we believe will
ensure that equalities and human rights are at the heart of
future economic policy development and implementation. Its work
will be crucial in first identifying and then tackling the
inequalities that currently condemn far too many of Scotland’s
disabled people to poverty and low pay.”
Background
The Centre of Expertise in Equality and Human Rights will be part
of the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser within Scottish
Government.
The centre will be structured around an internal policy network
to share examples of good practice more effectively across
government. There will be an ongoing training programme to equip
policy officials with the skills and knowledge they need. A
series of deep-dive sessions with external partners will explore
in depth the structural inequalities in our economy and how the
implementation of the strategy’s programmes and projects can
address equality and human rights issues.
The First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls
recommended the establishment of Centres of Expertise on Equality
and Human Rights across the Scottish Government.
The report of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, published
in June 2020, concluded that tackling inequalities is key
to our economic recovery. The Scottish Government responded with
its Economic Recovery Implementation Plan (August 2020) with a
commitment to strengthen its focus on tackling inequalities and
increasing wellbeing to create a socially just economy.
