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
Facal-luirg
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)
Facal-luirg
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
30 January 2026
Written submission from Close the Gap, 30 January 2026
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
30 January 2026
Letter from the Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, 30 January 2026
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Legal Aid reform: solicitor legal aid fees and fixed payments
28 January 2026
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, 28 January 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Neurodivergence
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
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.
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.
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.
Facal-luirg
Karen Adam
Convener
Scottish National Party
Maggie Chapman
Deputy Convener
Scottish Green Party
Dr Pam Gosal MBE
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Rhoda Grant
Member
Scottish Labour
Paul McLennan
Member
Scottish National Party
Marie McNair
Member
Scottish National Party
Tess White
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members