Attainment Target E2.2

When we think about human rights, we tend to think about issues such as the Palestinian situation, or people who have been unfairly put in prison by cruel dictators. However, all of us have human rights, and today I am going to talk about two areas of human rights that affect us all here in Scotland – sectarianism and wheelchair access.

Sectarianism can be defined as someone being unfairly treated because of their faith or religion. In Scotland, and especially in the West of Scotland, we can see and hear sectarianism on a weekly basis, simply by attending certain football matches. Celtic Football Club are associated with Roman Catholics, and Rangers Football Club are associated with Protestants. Some supporters of each team hate supporters of the other team, simply because of their religion. They sing, chant and shout insults about the other group, even when they’re not there! At its worst, sectarianism can result in assault, or even murder. The Nil By Mouth organisation was set up after a young man was murdered in Glasgow a few years ago, merely for wearing a Celtic scarf. This organisation are pressing the Scottish Parliament to pass a law making sectarianism an offence, so that you could be arrested for singing a sectarian song. If this stopped people doing this, it would be a good thing. The question is, would it? We won’t know until we try.

Wheelchair access is something that means a lot to me personally, since my gran is confined to a wheelchair. Buildings should provide wheelchair access, such as ramps, lifts, etc. so that wheelchair users can use them equally. When we are going somewhere for the first time, my gran has to phone to find out if she can get in. I don’t think that is fair. Just because someone is in a wheelchair, does not mean they are less equal than an able-bodied person. Everyone should be treated equally.

You might think that human rights only counts overseas. I have tried to show that human rights affects us here in Scotland too.