Our Rights Stories (JustRight Scotland)

In this episode, we explore the barriers African migrants face in the UK workforce, particularly the disconnect between their educational qualifications and the limited opportunities available to them. Our guest Esther from JustCitizens and Adeniyi from African Connect share personal insights on the struggles highly skilled individuals, including those with PhDs, face when they are pushed into the care sector as the "easy way out" of the system.  

We also discuss the broader issues of education, mental health, and employment within racialised communities in Scotland.     Tune in to hear how we can change the narrative and create a more inclusive system together.

Today we talk with Maria McCloskey, PILS Director, and Emma Cassidy, Senior Engagement Lead at PILS about what PILS is and what the team does, how the staff members take on new projects and develop them to help and support communities across Northern Ireland, how important strategic cases are as they impact not just one person but a number of people in our society and how the UK Government’s hostile environment policies are negatively affecting people and above all, children, in Northern Ireland.  

    The team also speaks about their latest projects including their recent podcast To Be Fair NI (shout out to this amazing new series!) and their upcoming toolkit for public interest litigation.  

To learn more about their recent cases, find out more about their next steps and listen to the PILS podcast, visit their website: 

PILS Project - Public Interest Litigation Support Northern Ireland (pilsni.org)  

This episode features our JustCitizens project, an independent migrant lived experience panel that advocate for a more fair and equal Scotland, with our special guests Mariam Tuma, Participation and Development Officer at JustRight Scotland and responsible for JustCitizens Project, and Eleni - one of our JustCitizens members.  Tune in to hear about the work that they do in Scotland and why it's so important.

Blog Post: https://justcitizens.scot/views/refugeebanbill-what-our-members-say-about-the-uk-governments-cruel-illegal-migration-bill/

Website: https://justcitizens.scot/

This episode features our CEO Emma Hutton, talking about her experience as a first time CEO and the first CEO of JustRight Scotland.    

By highlighting the highs and lows of her first journey as CEO, Emma reflects on the work the team at JustRight Scotland is doing and what we are focusing on to build a fairer and more equal Scotland for all.   From our campaign in opposition to the [Illegal] Migration Bill to the current Scottish Human Rights Bill Consultation, from our legal cases to our fundraising plans, from our next 5 years’ strategy to our community lawyering project. 

What are we doing next? Tune in to hear about the work that we do in Scotland, why it's so important and how we are making a difference in people’s lives across our communities! 

You can read more about Emma’s reflections on her blog here: https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2023/07/my-first-year/ 

You can read more about our latest news and campaigns on our website: JustRight Scotland 

This episode features our Scottish Just Law Centre (SJLC) which aims to reduce discrimination and disadvantage in Scotland by helping people use equalities and human rights law as an effective tool for social change. 

We talk with the team about their work, their recent case on access to higher education for migrant students in Scotland, about the current policy work they are focusing on including the Scottish Government’s consultation for the Human Rights Bill, their strategic trauma-informed approach to help and support people across our communities.     We hear more about their new project about Access To Justice in Scotland – you can find out more about it on our next episode so don’t miss it! 

  Tune in now to learn about the incredible work that Barbara Bolton, Maisie Wilson and Ronan Duff are doing in Scotland, why their services are so important and how organisations can get in touch.  

Useful links: 

https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/what-we-do/equality-disability/ 

https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2023/01/my-first-year-anniversary-as-legal-caseworker-for-the-scottish-just-law-centre/ 

https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2023/05/access-to-higher-education-for-migrant-students-is-now-a-real-right/ 

Today’s episode is a part one of a special conversation with Kairos Women+, a community-led women’s space for all women and non-binary people across Renfrewshire and beyond. We talk about their collaborative, intersectional and innovative participatory approach.  

What does it mean? We speak with Katy Wilson-Scott, senior coordinator, and Abril Flores Rojo, project worker, who highlight: 

• The value of collaboration  

• The role of an active and engaged local community 

• The lived expertise panel 

Want to find out more? Visit Kairos Women+’s website and explore their latest resources: Kairos Women+ – Renfrewshire's community-led women's space—collaboratively creating opportunities for women via workshops, events and courses. 

Today we talk with our Associate Solicitor Francesca Sella who works in our Scottish Refugee & Migrant Centre about what the centre does, how the team helps and supports asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland, how important the initial stage of age assessment of unaccompanied children seeking sanctuary is and how the [Illegal] Migration Bill will negatively affect people and above all migrant children in our communities. 

   What can we do to #StopTheBill?  At JustRight Scotland, we are running a Scottish campaign in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council. Read more here: Scotland rejects the Refugee Ban Bill (justrightscotland.org.uk) 

We also joined forced with Liberty, NACCOM, Praxis, Rainbow Migration, Rene Cassin and Women for Refugee Women to collect signatures across UK through a joint petition against the new [Illegal] Migration Bill.  Sign here: Sign our petition to STOP the #RefugeeBanBill (justrightscotland.org.uk)    To learn more about the impact of the #RefugeeBanBill in Scotland, please click here: Press Releases & Briefings - JustRight Scotland 

Together with the British Red Cross, we have published a short guide on the initial stage of age assessment to assist local authorities in Scotland and improve practice in this area. Find out more here: Age assessment of young people: our new guidance to assist local authorities in Scotland (justrightscotland.org.uk) 

This episode features our Scottish Anti-Trafficking & Exploitation Centre (SATEC) which is the only specialist legal project in Scotland that provides direct legal advice and representation to child and adult survivors of trafficking and exploitation in Scotland regardless of nationality, gender, type of exploitation and geographical location. 

We talk with the team about their work, their current projects, their holistic and trauma-informed approach to help and support survivors of trafficking and exploitation.     We hear more about their casework and their hopes for the future – you can find out more about it on our next episode so don’t miss it!  

   Listen now to learn about the incredible work that Eeman and Antonia are doing in Scotland, why their services are so important and how they have a life-changing impact on each client they work with.  

Stay tuned for Part 2 - coming soon!   

Useful links: 

Scottish Anti-Trafficking & Exploitation Centre - JustRight Scotland  

Legal Factsheets - JustRight Scotland

This episode features our trainee solicitor Eilidh, who speaks about her experience as a trainee at JustRight Scotland through the Justice First Fellowship scheme delivered by The Legal Education Foundation. 

Eilidh has been working across all our legal centres learning more about legal processes and procedures, court cases and legal surgeries. She also developed new skills and worked on different projects including her latest work on the Incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into the Scottish law.  

Want to learn more? Read our resources: 

UNCRC Implementation Fund - JRSKnowhow 

https://uncrc.scot/  

Make Human Rights Justice a Reality report 

https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2022/08/my-first-6-months-as-legal-trainee-and-justice-first-fellow/ 

We are also recruiting for a new Trainee Solicitor (Justice First Fellowship). You can apply here: Work with Us - JustRight Scotland 

Today, we talk with Jean Demars, Director of the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), about: 

• What PILC is and what the team does. 

• How they collaborate with community groups and social movements to drive systemic legal change. 

• Why it is crucial to establish trust-based relationships when working with the most marginalized communities in the UK. 

To learn more about their recent cases, upcoming initiatives, and their grassroots approach, where 'Without relationships with groups, we don't exist,' listen to our podcast! 

Visit their website for more details: Public Interest Law Centre • Public Law • Human Rights • Legal Action (pilc.org.uk)  

This is part 2 of our Scottish Just Law Centre episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team.     In this episode, we continue to talk with Barbara Bolton, Maisie Willson and Ronan Duff about the role of the Scottish Just Law Centre, the work the Centre is doing to support our communities across Scotland and why access to justice is so fundamental for people in Scotland.     We are focusing on this topic as part of our Scottish Just Law Centre (SJLC) long-term project regarding Access To Justice which aims to provide up-to-date and useful information for organisations and community groups across the country, allowing more people to learn more about their rights and how they access legal aid to make a claim. 

For more information, check out our new and accessible webpage containing some video content about legal aid, our SJLC and the Equality Act: Access to Justice - JustRight Scotland  

Download our factsheets here: https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/learn-more/legal-factsheets/   Our audible version is also available here:  Access to Justice - JustRight Scotland 

This episode features our Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC), a unique collaborative project between Rape Crisis Scotland, JustRight Scotland and the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic which provides free legal information, advice, representation and advocacy support to self-identifying women in Scotland affected by violence and abuse. 

We talk about our recently launched evening helpline which is staffed by our network of Pro-Bono Solicitors each Tuesday evening from 6pm-8pm. A new service in addition to our current outreach (helplines and surgeries). Our guest speaker Christy Foster, solicitor at Brodies LLP and pro-bono solicitor volunteer explains the value of this new service.    

Every year the SWRC welcomes students from the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic as interns. We will speak about this experience with Sasha Akavicis, who will join the centre over this summer as new intern! 

Tune in to hear about the incredible work that The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre does in Scotland and why their services are so important. 

Useful links: 

SWRC website: www.scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk 

Rape Crisis website: Rape Crisis Scotland | Working to end sexual violence 

University of Strathclyde Law Clinic website: Law School | University of Strathclyde 

Brodies website: Brodies LLP | Scotland's leading lawyers 

Scotland’s Human Rights Bill: an opportunity to strengthen human rights and access to justice 

This is the first episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast season 2 - created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team.  

This episode looks at the proposal of a Human Rights Bill for Scotland - as it's being consulted on - with our guest speaker Barbara Bolton, Legal Director & Partner at JustRight Scotland.  

We are focusing on this topic as part of our national campaign, which aims to raise awareness about #AllOurRights in Scotland and why access to justice must be a fundamental aspect of this new Bill. We also provide other organisations involved in this consultation process with information and detailed analysis about the proposals and on how this represents an opportunity to build a better future for all in Scotland, together.  

Useful resources   

Our blog series by Barbara Bolton, Legal Director and Partner: Scotland’s Human Rights Bill: an opportunity to strengthen human rights and access to justice in Scotland (justrightscotland.org.uk) 

Our statement: JustRight Scotland: Our statement on the Scottish Human Rights Bill Consultation

Our legal analysis: The Journal: Vol-68 Issue-09 - September 2023 | Law Society of Scotland (lawscot.org.uk) 

Our CEO’s comment piece: You can't have a right without a remedy  - TFN 

In this episode we talk about the impact of #OurGradesNotVisas campaign – together with Maryhill Integration Network and JustCitizens, and our landmark legal case which brought to a policy change in Scotland by extending the right to access education for migrant students for over two years. 

What happened? What was changed? 

We speak about our successful legal challenge achieved by our legal team when deciding to take our client’s case to court as there was a clear “issue of fairness and human rights at stake”, with our special guests Andy Sirel, Legal Partner and Director at JustRight Scotland, and Maisie Wilson, Legal Caseworker at JustRight Scotland. 

Blog Post: https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2023/03/access-to-education-is-a-human-right-for-everyone-our-gradesnotvisas-campaign-is-working-to-make-this-right-real-for-all/

JustCitizens: https://justcitizens.scot/

Marryhill Integration Network: https://maryhillintegration.org.uk/our-grades-not-visas/

Welcome to our first JustRight Scotland Podcast called Our Rights Stories. This is a wee trailer for you! Stay tuned! 

This is part 2 of our JustCitizens episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team.     In this episode we talk about the impact of the [Illegal] Migration bill on our communities, what our JustCitizens members are doing to help migrants and refugees despite the hostile UK Government’s immigration policies and at ways we can react all together by supporting each other's including with the upcoming celebration of Refugee Festival Scotland and our Roots of Refuge event.   Our free family friendly event organised in partnership with JustCitizens will take place on Thursday 22nd June at the Hidden Gardens in the southside of Glasgow, from 4pm to 7pm. 

Open to people, communities and organisations across the country, our event will focus on sharing stories of hope and celebration from migrants who have chosen to make Scotland their home. 

Find out more about it here: Celebrate Refugee Festival Scotland with us and join our Roots of Refuge event (justrightscotland.org.uk) 

Book your free ticket here: Roots of Refuge Tickets, Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 16:00 | Eventbrite 

Partner's Websites: 

Maryhill Integration Network: https://maryhillintegration.org.uk/

Sharpen Her: The African Women's Network: https://www.sharpenher.org.uk/

This is part 2 of our Scotland’s Human Rights Bill episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team.     This episode continues to look at the Scottish Government’s consultation proposals for a Human Rights Bill published on 15th June which will close on 5 October 2023.  We are focusing on this topic as part of our Scottish campaign which aims to call for the right to an effective remedy – one that is accessible, affordable, timely and effective – to be included in the Bill as a substantive right, with a duty to comply.  

That was omitted from the Consultation proposals.     Inclusion of this right in the framework Human Rights Bill will ensure it is part of national law and can be used to drive positive change, in the same way as the other substantive rights.    

For more information, check out our website: Scotland’s Human Rights Bill: the right to an effective remedy is essential to the new framework - JustRight Scotland  

This is part 3 of our Scotland’s Human Rights Bill series of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team.      In this episode, we keep talking about the current consultation, what are some of the gaps, how this impacts policy and what human rights incorporation means for people in Scotland and our justice system. We analyse the accessibility level of this consultation, how our JustCitizens members have reacted to these proposals and what's missing.  

We also focus on some next steps which can follow this consultation process, and talk about our hopes for the future, including why the right to an effective remedy has to be included in this Bill framework.  

For more information, check out our website here: Scotland’s Human Rights Bill: the right to an effective remedy is essential to the new framework - JustRight Scotland  

Read our response to the consultation here: 23.10.09-updated-A-Human-Rights-Bill-for-Scotland-JRS-Response-.pdf (justrightscotland.org.uk)

Every year the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) welcomes students from the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic as interns.   All of them work alongside our legal team, they improve their knowledge of the wider organisation by taking part in weekly meetings, events and activities and they gain new experience into the legal sector.   

Maya joined the SWRC on a placement over the summer and she is still a volunteer at our Scottish Women’s Rights Centre.   In this episode, we talk about her experience as intern first and as a volunteer after, her hopes and dreams for the future and the impact this opportunity is having on her studies and careers.  

Our Scottish Women's Rights Centre is a unique collaborative project between us, Rape Crisis Scotland and University of Strathclyde Law Clinic.  

They provide free legal information, advice, representation and advocacy support to self-identifying women in Scotland affected by violence and abuse. 

The SWRC’s services include legal and advocacy helplines, legal advice surgeries, advocacy support and legal representation. The team also produces accessible information regarding women’s rights and guides on women’s rights.    

You can read their latest blog about voyeurism and upskirting here: Voyeurism and upskirting: what are they and what are your rights? | News/Blog | Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk)  

Download their guidance here: Legal guide cover template.docx (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk) 

Read Maya’s blog post is available here: Insight series – Part 4: a JustRight Intern - JustRight Scotland 

To find out more about our SWRC and their latest vacancies, please visit their website: Vacancies | Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk)    

This is part 2 of our Refugee Ban Bill episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team. This episode continues to look at the [Illegal] Migration bill as it's being discussed in the House of Lords with our guest speakers Andy Sirel, Legal Director at JustRight Scotland and Graham O’Neill, Policy Manager at the Scottish Refugee Council. We are focusing on this topic as part of our Scottish campaign which aims to stop the #RefugeeBanBill and get other organisations involved in this call to reject the Bill and focus instead on how we can build a better future for welcoming refugees in Scotland.

For more information, check out our website: https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2023/03/scotland-rejects-the-refugee-ban-bill/

What are the root causes of gender-based violence? And what’s the difference between economic and financial abuse?  

Today’s episode is a special one, because we talked about the calls to action of the #16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and how organisations, institutions and individuals play a key role in ending violence against women and girls. 

We speak with our Senior Associate Solicitor at the Scottish Women’s rights Centre (SWRC) Lyndsay Monaghan and Jenn Glinski, researcher and expert on domestic abuse with unique expertise in economic abuse and banking.  

  We highlight how violence against women CAN and MUST be prevented through  

- investing in organisations which provide services for women survivors of gender-based violence; 

- committing to structural reform of our legal aid system to address systemic barriers women face to accessing justice  

- increase awareness of all forms of gender-based violence including coercive control and economic abuse   

Want to find out more?  

Visit our SWRC’s website and explore the latest resources: Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk) 

https://www.scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk/resources/Economic-Abuse-final.pdf  https://www.jennglinskiconsulting.com/postseparation 

This is part 2 of our conversation with Jean Demars, Director of the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC). 

This episode features the kind of services the team is delivering with a focus on their current projects and campaigns, and their approach when taking part in public inquiries including Undercover Policing Inquiry. 

  Jean is also focusing on their Gypsy and Traveller Legal Advice project and he depicts the structural inequalities these communities are facing across the UK and England, through extensive data analysis.  

Jean talks about laws and examples from PILC’s work in England and Wales and the laws in Scotland are often different. However, through our work with Gypsy/Traveller communities in Scotland we also see that these communities often face similar issues and barriers to justice. At JustRight Scotland we are working alongside these communities to defend and extend their rights across Scotland.   

The term ‘Gypsies and Travellers’ is used throughout this episode as it is the term used by PILC in their work. In Scotland the term 'Gypsy/Travellers' is often used to refer to distinct groups – such as Roma, Romany Gypsies, Scottish and Irish Travellers. 

      To learn about the amazing work that PILC are doing in the UK and how impactful it’s on their communities, you can 

• Visit their website   

• Check out their videos 

• Subscribe to their Newsletter  

This is part 2 of our Scottish Anti-Trafficking & Exploitation Centre (SATEC) episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team.    

This episode features the kind of services the team is delivering with a focus on their current projects and their holistic and trauma-informed approach.         To learn about the amazing work that Anushya, Eeman and Antonia are doing in Scotland and how impactful it’s on their clients, you can also visit our website:  

Scottish Anti-Trafficking & Exploitation Centre - JustRight Scotland 

Today’s episode is our insightful conversation with Satwat Rehman, CEO of One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS), a leading charity working with single-parent families in Scotland. 

While speaking with Satwat, we learned more about: 

• Their latest research, including the "Living without a Lifeline" report which highlights key issues single parents are facing during the cost-of-living crisis. 
• Their report findings from their five focus groups with single parents in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Dundee, and Edinburgh on a Just Transition to Net Zero.
• Their campaigns: from "Cost of School" (which addresses how costs such as school clothing and school meals can put pressure on low-income families) to "End Child Poverty" (ECP), which calls on the UK Government to take action on child poverty, universal credit, the benefit freeze, and childcare. 
• Their story and how this year they are celebrating 80 years of One Parent Families Scotland. 

Visit the OPFS website to read their latest news: Changing Lives, Challenging Poverty - One Parent Families Scotland. 

Today’s episode is a part two of our special conversation with Kairos Women+, a community-led women’s space for all women and non-binary people across Renfrewshire and beyond.  

While speaking with Katy Wilson-Scott, senior coordinator, and Abril Flores Rojo, project worker, about their incredible projects, we found out more about:  

• Kairos Museum and their collaboration with Paisley Museum around the Women's Guild,  

• and their innovative work with our Scottish Women’s Rights Centre by providing feedback through a lived expertise panel on the accessibility’s level of their services when it comes to access and inclusion and the barriers that women might face.  

Visit Kairos Women+’s website to read their latest news: Kairos Women+ – Renfrewshire's community-led women's space—collaboratively creating opportunities for women via workshops, events and courses. 

This is the first episode of the Our Rights Stories podcast created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team. This episode looks at the [Illegal] Migration bill as it's being discussed in the House of Lords at the committee stage today, with our guest speakers Andy Sirel, Legal Director at JustRight Scotland and Graham O’Neill, Policy Manager at the Scottish Refugee Council. We are focusing on this topic as part of our Scottish campaign which aims to stop the #RefugeeBanBill and get other organisations involved in this call to reject the Bill and focus instead on how we can build a better future for welcoming refugees in Scotland.

For more information, check out our website: https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2023/03/scotland-rejects-the-refugee-ban-bill/

As part of our #16 Days of Activism campaign against Gender-Based Violence, we continue our conversation with staff members from the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC), Nicola Mooney, Advocacy Worker, and Constance Trepanier, Legal Caseworker. 

In this episode we highlight which kinds of resources the SWRC has produced and produces to support survivors of gender-based violence and how important it is to train solicitors, police officers, and support workers on how to have a trauma informed approach when liaising with victims/survivors.  

We also speak about our dedicated weekly immigration advice surgery, staffed by solicitors from our Scottish Refugee & Migrant Centre in collaboration with the team at the SWRC, to provide a holistic service when survivors call for information.  

Lastly, we talk about the training the SWRC provides on topics such as sexual harassment, gender-based violence and domestic abuse; and we point out that all the work the SWRC does is informed by lived experience panels, which are part of current strategy the centre is working on.  

You can find out more about the services and resources provided by the SWRC on their website: Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk) 

Training’s details are available here: Training | Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk)  

More information on the immigration advice surgery here: Advice surgeries | Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk) 

In this latest episode - created and developed by the JustRight Scotland team, we are focusing on digital learning, how to set up personalised training and how transformative and impactful learning can be.  

We talk with Laura and Ricarda about the role of our social enterprise JRS Knowhow, the work the team is doing to improve people's understanding of rights and equalities across Scotland and to help organisations better understand what this approach means for their day-to-day job, and why it is so important across sectors and communities in Scotland.   

Our digital consultancy specialises in learning and social justice and the team has recently launched their online Craftivism Origami Box which you can check out here: https://jrsknowhow.org/shop/ 

Want to learn more about their other innovative projects? Click the below links: 

• JRS Knowhow website: https://jrsknowhow.org/ 
• Digital identity toolkit: https://www.accessnow.org/guide/digital-id-toolkit/ 
• Free email course ‘Equalities and human rights in the digital space’ developed together with THRE: https://mailchi.mp/jrsknowhow/equalities-and-human-rights-for-digital 
• eLearning course on sexual harassment: http://eepurl.com/iB897o 

Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a set of universal, indivisible and inalienable rights, recognizing the equal dignity and worth of every person.  

Listen to our special episode to learn more and download our resources below:  

Partner organisations:  

Human Rights Consortium Scotland – Civil society network to protect human rights in Scotland (hrcscotland.org)  

Making Rights Real – Using rights to improve communities  

Our Team - The PILS Project (pilsni.org)  

Our team: Our Team - JustRight Scotland  

Our centres: What we do - JustRight Scotland  

Our landmark legal case who changed the law for migrant students in Scotland now accessing free education: Access to Higher Education for migrant students is now a real right (justrightscotland.org.uk)  

Our work on Access to Justice: Access to Justice - JustRight Scotland 

Our campaign on the Scottish Human Rights Bill: Scotland’s Human Rights Bill: the right to an effective remedy is essential to the new framework - JustRight Scotland  

How you can support our work to defend and extend people’s rights: Donate - JustRight Scotland