Human Rights Day commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year is particularly significant as it marks the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, which gave UK citizens human rights that were legally enforceable. These rights protect our day-to-day lives, providing accountability and standards of dignity, safety, and respect.
For people affected by substance use, knowing and claiming these rights is essential to ensuring they receive the support and care they require and deserve.
Why Rights Matter in Recovery: As our Using Human Rights in Recovery guide states: “Human rights are the basic elements and protections that all humans require to live in safety and with dignity. They are not luxuries, or extras” .
Knowing your rights provides accountability. It transforms the conversation from “asking for a favour” to “expecting a standard of care.” It helps challenge stigma and ensures that people in recovery are treated with the dignity that is their legal right.
Here are four key areas to review within your organisation:
1. Understand your duties (Human Rights Act 1998)
Knowing the law is the first step.
Ask yourself: Have all your staff and volunteers attended sufficient training to feel confident delivering services with rights upheld?
Tip: Register and attend SRC Rights in Recovery sessions at the bottom of this page
2. Meaningful Participation
People should be able to contribute to the decisions that affect them.
Ask yourself: Have you reviewed your policies to take into account the views of the people affected by them?
Tip: Look over the Scottish Government Participation Handbook, where you will lots of useful advice.
3. Clear Accountability
Mistakes happen, but how you handle them defines your culture.
Ask yourself: Do you routinely explain how to access remedy when things go wrong?
Tip: Are you connected to your local Independent Advocacy organisation?
Find them here via SIAA
4. Eliminate Discrimination
People most at risk of discrimination must be prioritised.
Ask yourself: Do your staff understand the complex interplay between stigma, discrimination, and substance use?
Tip: Have you integrated people affected by substance use into your workforce
There is a fantastic resource from NHSGGC that will be helpful Tackling Drug Stigma is Everyone’s Business
The Charter of Rights represents a fundamental shift in Scotland's approach to substance use. It moves the focus away from stigma and criminalisation, replacing it with a framework built on public health and human rights.
Drawing directly from international law and the Human Rights Act 1998, the Charter establishes a clear standard for dignity and respect in all services.
It serves two vital purposes:
For Rights-Holders: It empowers individuals to understand and claim the support they are entitled to.
For Duty-Bearers: It provides a clear guide for organisations to understand and meet their legal obligations.
We are running free online sessions to help you put this into practice. We recommend attending an Introduction session first, followed by the Full Day session.
Introduction to Rights in Recovery (2 Hours) Perfect for anyone new to human rights. Covers the Charter of Rights, the HRA 1998, and the PANEL Principles .
20th Jan 2026: 12.30pm – 2.30pm
29th Jan 2026: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Full Day Rights in Recovery
A deeper dive offering insight into the FAIR model, MAT Standards, and the Equality Act 2010, relating them all to the Scottish Government’s Rights, Respect and Recovery strategy .
10th Feb 2026: 10.00am – 3.30pm
How to Book: To sign up for any of these sessions, please click on the links below.
