Castlemilk community group publishes Human Rights Declaration

To mark International Human Rights Day, a community group in south Glasgow has published its own declaration to protect the rights of local people.

The Castlmilk Housing and Human Rights Board published their declaration in a bid to keep human rights at the forefront of community activism.

The Board was set up by Ardenglen, Craigdale, Cassiltoun and North View Housing Associations to promote housing as a human right and what that means for people’s everyday lives living in the area. 

Chair of the Board, Anna Stuart MBE said: "We believe in the right of people to enjoy living in their communities which are governed in a just, inclusive, safe sustainable and democratic way so we each can enjoy life with dignity and peace and this declaration reinforces this."

The Board believe that housing, food and health are the cornerstones of a happy and contented life.

Anna added: "With quality housing, and food along with good health you have the building blocks to live a fulfilled life. With these in place educational and work opportunities are opened up with all the life chances these provide."

The declaration was launched at the Board’s annual conference which had as guest speakers Charlie McMillan from Human Rights Consortium Scotland and Angus McIntosh from Castlemilk Law Centre.

The conference heard how the board would be delivering on two key areas in the year to come.

The Board will work with the Scottish Government to ensure the delivery of a Human Rights Bill for Scotland and also continue to lobby authorities to secure a supermarket for the area.

Anna continued: "We’ve taken great strides over the past year in bringing the issue of a lack of access to good quality, affordable food in the area and we will continue to press this issue until we are successful. Food a basic human right and one that is currently being denied to local people, this has to change."

The Board recently secured a Westminster Parliament debate on the issue.