What are Human Rights?
Human Rights standards cover civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights. The standards are defined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the case decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. In addition, there are treaties which our Government have ratified including seven UN treaties and the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Probably the most well known is the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, adopted in 1948.

The human rights principles are fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy (self-rule) which are defined in the 'preambles' to international and European human rights treaties.

We each have rights and responsibilities and the UK State, including the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament, has a duty to protect and promote human rights. Evidence that is happening includes:

• Culture of human rights: rules, practices and services that treat individuals with fairness, respect, equality, dignity & autonomy.
• Standards are understood and applied across business covering civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.
• Delivery using a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) that covers an organisation from top to bottom from leaders to front line staff