On International Human Rights Day, the Scottish Government has pledged to strengthen rights at home and abroad, highlighting plans for a Human Rights Bill, says Shirley-Anne Somerville

Today is International Human Rights Day, which is an opportunity for us all to take stock: to recognise progress, face difficult truths, and remember why rights matter. The theme chosen by the United Nations this year - “Human rights: our everyday essentials” - reminds us that rights are not abstract ideas. They are about the stuff of everyday life: warmth, food, safety, housing, healthcare, and the dignity we owe each other.

Scotland strives to be a responsible and progressive global nation – one that champions human rights here at home and stands up for them abroad. We have made important progress in our human rights journey, but we know there remains much to be done to ensure that everyone in Scotland can live with dignity.

This week, the Scottish Human Rights Commission published a valuable report on the state of rights realisation in Scotland. It clearly demonstrates the importance of all public authorities working to improve how people experience their human rights in Scotland.

Earlier this month – in response to periodic scrutiny of the UK’s record by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - we published a high level action plan which sets out what we are doing, and will do, to strengthen........

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