Blog: What stops people in poverty realising their human rights?

Human rights are not just abstract ideals; they are standards for our governments, intended to ensure that every person can live a life of dignity and respect. For many people in Scotland, especially those experiencing poverty, these rights remain out of reach 

Economic, social, and cultural rights are our everyday human rights. These include rights to adequate housing, health, education, and work under fair conditions. Scotland is committed to upholding these rights through international treaties like the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).  

Since early 2022 The Poverty Alliance has been delivering workshops on poverty and economic, social and cultural rights online and in the community with staff and volunteers from our membership organisations and people with experience of poverty.  We have spoken to 230 people about the barriers people experiencing poverty in Scotland face accessing their human rights.  

The project identified several crosscutting issues that are preventing the realisation of many human rights across Scotland, these include the impact of the high levels of inflation during the ‘cost of living crisis’; our inaccessible and costly public transport system limiting access to employment, healthcare, and education, particularly in rural areas; digital exclusion; low pay and insecure work; the impact of poverty on mental health and lack of appropriate mental health care; food insecurity and hunger and the impact of poverty related stigma.  

The workshop discussions summarised in our briefing highlight what many of us already know- people experiencing poverty face profound barriers to realising  their human rights. Addressing these challenges requires systemic change, informed by the lived experiences of those in poverty. By centering human rights in anti-poverty efforts, Scotland can take meaningful steps toward ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can live with dignity. 

The Poverty Alliance continue to work with their member organisations, and others to advocate for policies that prioritise rights realistion and dignity, including promoting the Living Wage and campaigning for a Minimum Income Guarantee to ensure no one falls below a basic income threshold.