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I used to be an Amnesty International activist in a small way, 20 years ago, writing to authoritarian governments on behalf of political prisoners until thoroughly pissed of by the chair’s support for Israel and on discovering that most of these political prisoners had utterly unacceptable and hypocritical views on women’s rights.

Under a TuS post on Reform UK, long-time and much valued, commentator, ArtyHetty wrote:

I have some recent emails from ‘Amnesty international UK’ in Lonodn, and they are telling wee porkies about Scotland.
Here’s what they are saying..

”The 2021 Scottish parliamentary election was shaped
by the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as
parties outlined their visions for recovery. Since then,
inequality has deepened and living standards have
been hit hard, leaving many without access to the
basic rights essential for a dignified life.
As we approach the 2026 Holyrood election, global
challenges resonate locally”.

”The Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May are a critical moment for human rights in Scotland. Against an international and domestic backdrop of politicians and others exploiting fear, division, and misinformation, we must make sure that Scotland’s next government and parliament puts human rights at the centre of all that it does.

Too many people in Scotland are being denied their rights. Too many are living in poverty, or in inadequate or insecure housing. And too many communities are being demonised simply for being who they are. This election can help to change that.

That is why on Wednesday 1 April at 7pm-8.15pm, Amnesty International UK and the Human Rights Consortium Scotland will be hosting an online Human Rights Hustings, offering you the opportunity to press candidates from each of Scotland’s major political parties on the human rights issues that matter most”.

They go on and far as I can see, they are saying Scotland is an utter basket case, no human rights and off the scale levels of poverty, children being left to starve etc. I haven’t had time to email them back yet, but I notice they say Scotland’s major political parties…when in fact Labour, Libdems and Tories are not Scottish parties.

I do worry these organisations based in England are misinforming people about Scotland, and possibly somewhat partisan into the bargain, given their narrative about Scotland being such a basket case with the current government. 

More recent but also much-valued regular, Lis S, took up on this and wrote:

Hi ArtyHetty, I thought that there was a Amnesty International based in Scotland , so I looked it up and they do indeed have an office in Edinburgh, which they state on their website was established in 1992.

They, Amnesty Scotland, also refer to the 2026 Scottish elections and state that:

“Across Scotland, we’re seeing the same challenges hitting people’s lives. Too many people are being denied their rights. Too many are living in poverty or in inadequate or insecure housing. And too many communities are being demonised simply for being who they are. This election can help to change that”

“The 2026 elections can be a moment of possibility in Scotland. It is a chance for candidates and party leaders to focus their attention on what people want – practical action taken towards building a more just Scotland for all”.

People in Scotland want to see a fair and decent society where nobody has to struggle for the essentials. A human rights bill that will introduce strong legal protections for those everyday rights is a vital step in achieving that future

(I copied and pasted the above and they , on their website, added the words in bold for emphasis, not me).

I agree with them that “People in Scotland want to see a fair and decent society where nobody has to struggle for the essentials”.

But how much can the Scottish devolved government achieve when both their funding and their powers are being reduced ?

They also state that they want “party leaders to focus their attention on what people want – practical action taken towards building a more just Scotland for all”

“Party leaders”?

Surely they know that all policy from Labour, Tory & the Lib Dems for matters within Scotland is not decided by branch office managers but is decided by their respective HQ’s, who seem to be more concerned with matters elsewhere within the UK , specific to one nation only within the UK.

Also they , Amnesty Scotland, do not offer any current examples of where the Scottish government have at least tried to “build a more just Scotland for all” and they also fail to recognise the limitations that the Scottish devolved government have while still being a part of the UK State.

We need organisations like Amnesty International to stop all of the spin and instead focus upon what factors are really preventing more progress being made upon human rights in Scotland , instead of lazily dragging in a government in Scotland who constantly have to mitigate the mess made by UK government bad policies and decisions.

Why is our government being made liable for all of the bad decisions and policies being made at WM by a UK government ?

Why indeed, as yet again that, as a situation, is par for the course.

Liz S

Then, ArtyHetty, came back with:

Thanks Liz. Totally agree, these organisations and charities are either ignorant about devolution and limits on policy etc therefore or choose to lump Scotland in with terrible English government policies, so, even appearing to be partisan.
I did see Amnesty international UK are registered in Scotland as a charity, but their official organisation is not registered in Scotland, just England and Wales. I sent them, via bluesky, a link to TUS, and also linked the SNP government 100 positive policies put in place, that vastly outshines, and mitigates against English government austerity, and English government’s deliberate neglect to improve the lives of the people they are meant to represent. Maybe it would be interesting to attend the hustings in Scotland that Amnesty are hosting soon…not sure I could bear to hear the lies of the English parties though.

Nothing pleases me more than TuS having become a forum for this kind of thing.

John

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:

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Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04  Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON