This is the first of two seminars that aim to examine how the independence debate and the question-mark it has placed over Scotland's constitutional future influence human rights protections, by creating a dialogue between academics, practitioners, and civil society. 

This seminar has been organised collaboratively by The Scottish Constitutional Futures Forum, the Human Rights Consortium Scotland, the Glasgow Human Rights Network, and the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network and is supported by the Thomas Paine Initiative.  It will be held at the Scottish Parliament, with the sponsorship of John Finnie MSP. 

More specifically, this seminar will evaluate the uncertain world of human rights protection across the UK as a whole, learning from the difficulty of implementing new rights provisions in Northern Ireland, in particular. Human Rights in Scotland will be considered in the light of recent developments, with a mapping of the rights implications of different possible constitutional outcomes: the status quo of devolution (that is capable of on-going development); increased devolution; and independence.  The purpose of this seminar will be to provide information on key legal issues, to place human rights in Scotland within a broader UK and international perspective, and to draw upon the experience of, and feedback from, participants to inform the second seminar which will take place in May 2013.  

This is an invitation only event. If you would like to attend, please register to receive an invitation from the Scottish Parliament. Please note that the number of places for the event is limited and they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Due to venue specifications, this event will require the submission of a guest list with the names of all those who have registered, and you will be asked to present your invitation on arrival.  We would be very grateful if you could inform us if you have registered and will not be able to attend, or if someone else from your organisation can attend in your place, as numbers are limited and we want to facilitate the largest attendance possible. If you need to contact us or require any additional information, please email  law.events@ed.ac.uk with ?Human Rights and Scotland's Constitutional Future? in the subject line.

This seminar will be followed by the Ruth Adler Human Rights Lecture, 'Using comparative constitutionalism in human rights discourse: Ireland's past and Scotland's future', given by Professor Christopher McCrudden (Queen's University Belfast) on the same date (Playfair Library, Old College, University of Edinburgh, 6pm), to which you are also invited. Please email law.events@ed.ac.uk with 'Adler lecture' in the subject line if you would like to attend.