Our Rights Stories

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

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/

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/

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 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/

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/

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 

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 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/ 

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 

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