Strong Foundations for SNAP2

SNAP 2 is built on solid foundations, shaped by international best practice and key lessons from Scotland’s first national human rights action plan, SNAP 1. 

International Guidance 

SNAP 2 follows the United Nations’ eight criteria for effective national human rights action plans: 

  • Evidence-based: Grounded in robust research and extensive public engagement. 
  • Inclusive: Developed with input from rights holders, civil society, and public bodies. 
  • Supported at all levels: Backed by the Scottish Government and other duty bearers. 
  • Action-oriented: Contains 54 specific, practical actions. 
  • Realistic: Designed to be deliverable within existing systems and resources. 
  • Measurable: Includes long- and medium-term outcomes, with indicators to track progress. 
  • Resourced: The Scottish Government has committed funding for the Secretariat and Leadership Panel, with further resource planning underway. 
  • Monitored: Oversight by the SNAP Leadership Panel, supported by the Secretariat and independent evaluation. 

Recommendations from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights reinforces the UN’s best practice criteria for national action plans.  

The value of SNAP is further recognised in multiple UN Concluding Observations for Scotland and the UK, where its adoption and implementation have been consistently welcomed and encouraged. 

Learning from SNAP 1 (2013–2017) 

SNAP 1 Reports and Case Studies  

Scotland’s first SNAP (SNAP 1) ran from 2013 to 2017. It was developed and implemented as a collaborative partnership, bringing together the Scottish Government, public bodies, civil society organisations, the National Human Rights Institutions, and rights holders across Scotland. In total, over 40 organisations and people took part in delivering, governing and monitoring SNAP.  

SNAP 1 Independent Evaluation  

An independent evaluation of SNAP 1 was commissioned in March 2017, building on qualitative interviews evaluating SNAP that took place from 2014 onwards, as well as documentary analysis. The independent evaluation was carried out by Dr Jo Ferrie of the University of Glasgow, and the final report was published in 2019. 

Further information can be found within Appendix 1 of SNAP2.