The NPM Scotland Subgroup was established on 6 October 2014. The subgroup’s aim is to work in Scotland to deliver against the NPM human rights mandate in relation to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).
The subgroup’s activities include:
- Identifying common issues and interests
- Exploring possibilities for, and conducting, joint activity between members and with outside bodies
- Advising and holding government and relevant authorities to account on
ongoing and emerging issues, based on members’ findings and research - Sharing information on the work of the NPM bodies in Scotland
- Improving liaison with the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament
- Working cooperatively with international inspection bodies
- Making use of self-assessment and peer evaluation tools to measure
continued improvement, and - Raising the profile of the work of the NPM.
The subgroup meets quarterly and is coordinated by the UK NPM Central Team. The current Chair of the NPM Scotland Subgroup is the Scottish Human Rights Commission, represented by Angela O’Hagan.
The members of the subgroup are:
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS)
- The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS)
- Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
- Care Inspectorate (CI)
- Independent Custody Visiting Scotland (ICVS)
- HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS)
- Head of the UK NPM
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) also attend the NPM Scotland Subgroup by invitation.