Senedd Cross Party Group on Human Rights

11^th November 2021

Online meeting

In attendance (individual attendance is recorded rather than organisational affiliation):

Sioned Williams MS Chair

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Altaf Hussain MS

Andrew Jenkins

Simon Hoffman

Martin Jones

Kelly Stuart

Ross Thomas

Sean O’Neill

Gethin Rees

Nicola Evans

Charles Whitmore

Adele Rose Morgan

Zoe Rylands

Katie Palmer

Hannah Harvey

Rhian Davies

Rocio Cifuentes

Dragan Nastic

Rhian Thomas Turner

Nicola Evans

Paul Dear

Rhian Davies

The Chair welcomed attendees and explained that the meeting was the first meeting of a reinstated CPG on Human Rights. The Chair stated that it was felt desirable to reinstate the CPG having regard to the worrying situation on human rights generally in the UK and having regard to the desire to make progress in Wales using devolved powers.

Simon Hoffman introduced research carried out for the Welsh Government and reported on in August 2021 (Strengthening and Advancing Equality and Human Rights in Wales).  He explained the main findings from the research and outlined key recommendations (noting there are 40 recommendations in total).

The meeting, which was attended by many representatives from civil society organisation working at the sharp end of human rights issues, discussed the research and its recommendations.

The meeting was in agreement that in order to ensure Wales is insulated against possible threats to human rights protection arsing from the policies and legislation under the control of the UK government, the Welsh Government should implement the SAEGR research recommendations as expeditiously as possible.

The meeting asked the chair to write to the Minster for Social Justice seeking an update of progress toward implementing the recommendations set out in the SAEHR report.

The date of next meeting will be agreed with the chair and circulated to members of the Wales Civil Society Human Rights Stakeholder Group and other human rights networks and to Senedd members.