Scottish Parliamentary Briefing: Priorities for the New Scottish Government

This briefing sets out the policies Amnesty International UK wants the Scottish Government and Parliament to pursue during the first year of the new 2026 Parliament, including legislative reform, improved access to justice, and actions to tackle discrimination and inequality.

If followed, our recommendations will embed human rights across public policy and decision-making, while ensuring Scotland’s domestic and international actions are consistent with its stated commitments to dignity, equality and accountability. Together, these measures will help build a fairer, rights-respecting Scotland for everyone.

We urge MSPs across all parties to support these calls:

1. Introduce a Human Rights Bill
2. Improve access to justice, including through a Legal Aid Reform Bill
3. Decriminalise abortion
4. Ban conversion practices
5. Centre human rights in Scotland’s international work
6. Ensure Scottish public money is not involved in supporting violations of international law

For more details on our proposals, read the full briefing below.