Theme 3: Where we live

The theme of Where we live is used here to refer to a range of issues and the report provides an overview of what appear to be some key human rights gaps and good practices under the headings of:

The right to adequate housing

The right to adequate housing has various dimensions, including security of tenure; availability of services; affordability; accessibility; habitability and cultural appropriateness of housing. Some of the issues identified in the report include: the availability of housing and steps to address homelessness; access to adequate housing for all without discrimination; affordability and security of tenure; habitability including the appropriateness of the current standard of "tolerable housing" and fuel poverty. Discrimination in seeking housing is also an issue that emerged from the scoping project, especially for minority ethnic communities and groups such as ex-offenders.

The rights of those living in rural areas

Disparities in access to services between those in rural and urban areas potentially raise human rights concerns. Issues identified in the report include: increased poverty; a lack of available and accessible services including housing, care and support, education, transport and healthcare; lower than average income levels, with employment concentrated in a small number of low productivity sectors.

Where Scottish Gypsy/Travellers live

The rights of members of Gypsy/Traveller communities in Scotland have been the subject of review by a number of national and international human rights bodies which have made repeated recommendations. Concerns identified in the report centre on a persistent shortage of adequate permanent and transit sites throughout the country, resulting in frequent evictions and tensions with the majority settled population.

The rights of members of Gypsy/Traveller communities in Scotland have been the subject of review by a number of national and international human rights bodies which have made repeated recommendations. Concerns identified in the report centre on a persistent shortage of adequate permanent and transit sites throughout the country, resulting in frequent evictions and tensions with the majority settled population.