Scotland’s efforts to place equality and human rights at the heart of public life have taken a significant step forward with the launch of a new suite of tools designed to help organisations embed fairness into everyday decision making.
The Scottish Government has today unveiled its Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy, a supporting Action Plan, and a comprehensive Mainstreaming Toolkit that brings together more than one hundred resources for the first time.
These materials will guide public bodies as they work to integrate equality and human rights into policies, programmes and daily practice.
Mainstreaming is the process by which fairness becomes part of the foundation rather than an afterthought.
It means designing systems that remove barriers, reduce inequality and acknowledge the lived experience of people who too often face disadvantage.
It is an approach long called for across public services, and one the Government committed to delivering in its 2023–24 Programme for Government.
The new toolkit includes training materials, case studies and practical examples that show how mainstreaming can be built, sustained and expanded in real organisations.
Alongside it, the Action Plan sets out in a single place the actions already underway across government, offering a clear route map for the years ahead.
Minister for Equalities Kaukab Stewart said:
“At a time in which protected characteristics are being scrutinised and inequality persists, effectively mainstreaming equality and human rights throughout everything we do has never been so crucial.
“The documents and toolkit will help ensure every decision we take within the core Scottish Government and the wider public sector is fully considerate of the impacts on people, and that our systems and processes are fair and help those who need it most.
“The Action Plan focuses on Scottish Government actions, so we can lead by example and demonstrate how a systematic approach to mainstreaming can drive change across government and society.”
Skills Development Scotland supported the development of the suite of resources, and its Head of Equality and Diversity, Fergus McMillan, said:
“Skills Development Scotland is delighted to work with the Scottish Government and public sector partners in developing the Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Toolkit.
“Embedding equality and human rights across the wider public sector is crucial, and this collaborative work will be essential to that process.
“We look forward to leading as an organisation in using the toolkit to strengthen our existing work and to encourage others to use it.”
The launch marks a shift towards a more consistent, transparent and accountable approach to fairness in public life, offering organisations the tools they need to turn aspiration into daily practice.
