Human rights policy for Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Date: 3rd June 2014
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

As Glasgow gears up to host the Commonwealth Games this summer, the Scottish Human Rights Commission has been working with the Games Organising Committee and others to adopt a human rights policy.

The human rights policy addresses important human rights concerns and aims to help to make the Glasgow Games an example for others to follow. It is the first time in over 80 years of Commonwealth Games history that a human rights policy has been adopted.

The policy sets out how human rights have been, and will be, protected and promoted in the preparation and delivery of the Glasgow Games, including respecting freedoms, promoting participation and adopting a sustainable procurement policy.

The Glasgow Games is an important opportunity to embed the values of respect, diversity, tolerance and fairness that underpin all of our human rights. The Games also highlight the role that business can play in contributing to a society that respects human rights.

Important human rights concerns for the Games include forced evictions, forced labour and trafficking, procurement, policing and security and the Games legacy.

Where the human rights policy relates to children and young people, partnership of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Organising Committee for the Games aims to raise funds for UNICEF's work in Commonwealth countries around the world. Where young people are involved in aspects of the Games - and with Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in mind, the Organising Committee has committed to ensure it 'develops, implements and monitors a set of arrangements in relation to child protection that meet the legal and moral obligations' incumbent on them, and 'will seek wherever possible to demonstrate best practice'.

• Download the 'Approach to Human Rights' policy document here.