DLA Piper has advised Amnesty International on the spin-out of the Human Rights Consortium Scotland (HRCS) as a separate, independent human rights organisation.

HRCS is a network of civil society organisations who work together to protect and promote human rights. HRCS is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator, having previously been part of Amnesty International UK’s operations in Scotland.

Amnesty International assumed management responsibility of HRCS in 2016 and since then has incubated the organisation, providing infrastructure, growing its capacity and supporting fundraising to ensure HRCS could become an independent, financially sustainable organisation. The support provided to HRCS was part of Amnesty’s ongoing commitment to the development of the human rights sector in Scotland.

HRCS works towards two strategic goals: to be a strong, collective civil society voice to protect and promote human rights; and to ensure that civil society has the resources and understanding that it needs to protect and promote human rights in Scotland. Specifically, HRCS is currently working on issues concerning the impact of Brexit on human rights, increasing the strategic use of the courts, and on ensuring no weakening of legal protections at UK level.

Amnesty International UK was advised by Sheffield-based Corporate senior associate Sarah Riley and Real Estate associate Nadia Gehlen.

Sarah Riley said: “As issues such as COVID-19, Brexit, climate change and social injustice continue to impact society, strengthening human rights law and its implementation has never felt so timely or important. These issues impact us all, but we know they will most acutely affect those in society whose human rights are already disproportionately infringed upon. It is crucial for us all to use the skills that we have to help where we can. We were therefore so pleased to be able to support Amnesty and the HRCS with this project, in their work to protect, and progress, human rights for all.”

Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International’s Scotland Programme Director, said: “We were very fortunate to have legal expertise from DLA Piper to help us complete the legal processes to transition the Human Rights Consortium Scotland from an organisation managed by Amnesty International to an independent entity registered with OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator. Now, more than ever, the third sector relies on pro bono support from professional services organisations to deliver their vital work. We are grateful to Sarah Riley and the DLA Piper team for donating their time and considerable legal expertise to the Amnesty International team.”