Programme for Government 2023 to 2024

Outcomes and Equalities

Scotland’s National Performance Framework (NPF) is our wellbeing framework. The eleven National Outcomes set out a vision of what wellbeing means for the people of Scotland and enable everyone to work towards these shared goals. Our commitment to the three missions of equality, opportunity and community, as laid out in the recent Policy Prospectus, will contribute towards all the National Outcomes, taking us towards a country that prioritises wellbeing for all.

A review of the National Outcomes is already underway. This is our opportunity to ensure that the outcomes continue to reflect what matters most to communities across Scotland, and will be informed by the consultation and engagement that has taken place with individuals and organisations. The result of this review will be laid before Parliament in early 2024.

We are also committed to continually improving the way the NPF is used, across government and more widely. We will continue to explore the development of legislative proposals on a wellbeing and sustainable development Bill, to support greater implementation of the NPF, and to ensure the interests of future generations are taken into account in decisions made today.

We are committed to ensuring Scotland remains a global leader in equality, inclusion and human rights: a country with strong, inclusive communities where everyone enjoys realisation of their fundamental human rights, where people feel connected, have a sense of belonging and community, and feel valued for their contribution to society.

While we have made progress, inequality persists. This highlights the need to tackle structural and systemic barriers to equality. We recognise that disadvantage is experienced in groups beyond those defined under protected characteristics and, critically, that the intersection of forms of disadvantage compounds structural inequality. We continue to take action to embed equality and human rights into the daily activity of government and the wider public sector, from strategic decision making to the delivery of services.

We are also taking specific steps to introduce a Human Rights Bill and to invite the Scottish Parliament to bring back the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill for Reconsideration Stage, to deliver legislation that protects and enhances a fuller range of human rights within the limits of devolved competence – improving the lives of those most marginalised and vulnerable in our society.

We are taking forward action to address discrimination and disadvantage. This includes preventing hate crime, advancing LGBTI+ equality through the Non-Binary Equality Action Plan, and consulting on legislative proposals to end conversion practices. We are working collaboratively to improve the lives of disabled people, recognising the systemic barriers they face. Scotland continues to welcome and support those fleeing war and persecution. We are addressing intersectional gender inequality, including tackling violence against women and girls, and continuing our implementation of the recommendations of the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls. We will invest in a new Anti-Racism Observatory to provide oversight and support for anti-racism approaches, so that we can eradicate racism in Scotland.