Race for Human Rights (R4HR)

Race equality and human rights are inextricably connected.

The R4HR programme was launched as a direct response to the changing landscape of human rights law in Scotland. Public authorities and bodies have a legal requirement to protect, fulfil and respect human rights and our team of specialists are here to help them step up a gear and guide them through this process.

Everyone has the right to feel included in their workplace, regardless of their background or circumstance. Where a work environment is diverse and inclusive, people feel secure and accepted, providing a pathway to thrive in their roles.

As a social construct, racism is still prevalent through inherited practices and mindsets influenced over decades of political discourse. The impact on societies and the community is often ignored or overlooked, which suggests that a fundamental shift is required within wider society to understand the value brought by diversity and ethnic minority communities.

Racial discrimination is an ongoing issue, common place in employment, within private, public and third sector organisations. Increasing gaps in levels of unemployment are evident between visible ethnic minorities and white communities. There is an obvious need to address this disparity with alternative and long-term strategies. The Scottish Governments’ Race Equality Framework sets out thirty goals to achieve by 2030 to focus on the continuing disparities in Scottish society.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that all the rights and provisions within it must be enjoyed without discrimination against race. Furthermore, one of the core principles of human rights is equality. Therefore, race discrimination is also a violation of their human right.

We advocate a human rights approach when creating race equality policies, practices, positive action measures, networks, advisory groups and the collection of data. We believe that adopting a human rights-based approach not only ensures that organisations are respecting human rights and fulfilling their human rights obligations but it also creates an environment of trust, value, safety and dignity within the workplace.