The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) works with women who have been affected by abuse and violence in Scotland with the aim of improving their access to justice and experience of the justice system.
The SWRC is an innovative collaborative project which brings together the expertise of JustRight Scotland with Rape Crisis Scotland and the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic.
We are informed by our direct work with victims/survivors of violence and abuse, and also seek to influence national policy, research and training to improve processes and systems to improve outcomes for women.
Go to Scottish Women’s Rights Centre website
What we do
We provide:
- Free and confidential legal and advocacy helplines
- Remote legal advice surgeries
- Specialist legal representation and advocacy support
- Policy work and research on a local, national and international level directly informed by the experiences of women contacting the SWRC
- Legal guides and other information resources about women’s rights published online
- Professional training for solicitors and support organisations working with victims/survivors of abuse
We are funded by:
Resources
Policy Consultation Responses
New Plan for Immigration 2021 – JustCitizens Response (PDF)
New Plan for Immigration 2021 – JustRight Scotland Response (PDF)
Judicial Review Reform and the Devolved Jurisdictions (PDF)
Briefing for Third Sector Organisations in Scotland Responding to the UK Govt’s New Plan for Immigration Consultation (PDF)
The Impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 in Scotland: A perspective from legal practice (PDF)
Short guide for Scottish civil society organisations on responding to the Independent Human Rights Act Review (PDF)
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Equalities and Human Rights in Scotland (JRS) (PDF)
Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill 2020 (PDF)
Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds (PDF)
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review 2020 (PDF)
The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill 2020 (PDF)
Legal Aid Reform in Scotland (PDF)
Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill 2019 (PDF)
Incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (PDF)
Stalking Protection (Scotland) Bill 2019 (PDF)
Confidentiality Clauses: Prevention of misuse in workplace harassment or discrimination (PDF)
Police Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues (PDF)
Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Bill (PDF)
Reforming Part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (PDF)
Scottish Parliament: Protection of Workers from Sexual Harassment (PDF)
Civil Actions for Damages in Respect of Rape and Other Serious Crimes (PDF)
Pre-recording of Evidence of Child and other Vulnerable witnesses (PDF)
Equally Safe Draft Delivery Plan (PDF)
Blog & News Articles
‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ and migrant women living with abuse
By Hanan El-Atrash In the UK, some migrants are subject to a condition called No Recourse to Public Funds or NRPF, which can have far reaching consequences for migrant women, particularly those living...
Civil Cases for Rape are Access to Justice
Civil Cases for Rape are Access to Justice, Not "Destruction of Justice" The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) and JustRight Scotland (JRS) are deeply concerned by the publication of the article in...
FGM: Breaking Down Barriers
Here are some things about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) many people do not know: Women and girls in Scotland are at risk of FGM; This is not something that is based in any religion; and It is a...
New Plan for Immigration Consultation: A Briefing for Scottish Civil Society Organisations
On 24 March 2021, the UK Government published its New Plan for Immigration, which sets out various proposals for changes to nationality, immigration and asylum law. The consultation invites members of...
New Plan for Immigration Consultation: Our Response
On 24 March 2021, the UK Government published its New Plan for Immigration, which sets out various proposals for changes to nationality, immigration and asylum law. JustRight Scotland and our JustCitizens...
Press Release: AR v Stephen Daniel Coxen
Successful Civil Damages Action for Rape: AR v Stephen Daniel Coxen Friday, 5 October 2018 The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) and JustRight Scotland (JRS) welcome today’s judgment of Sheriff Weir...
Response to Independent Review on the Human Rights Act
We have submitted a response to the Independent Review of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), in response to its call for evidence which closed on 3 March 2021. Our submission makes it clear that we see ...
Scottish Women’s Rights Centre
We are delighted to announce that as of 1 October 2017, JustRight Scotland is the specialist legal provider for the Scottish Women's Rights Centre (SWRC). The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) is ...
Stamping Out NRPF in Scotland
By Talat Yaqoob The news stories of the increasingly dangerous and dehumanising policies being considered by the Home Office have continued to dominate another week in the press. We know that these...
SWRC Inform: Contact and Residence Orders
Welcome to our final post in the series on Domestic Abuse and Scots Law – Training for Solicitors following our recent seminar by Helen Hughes. See our first two blog posts here and here. This blog...
SWRC Inform: Protective Orders
Welcome back to our series of blog posts on Domestic Abuse and Scots Law – Training for Solicitors following our first SWRC Inform seminar by Helen Hughes. In our last post, we looked at ‘What Solicitors...
SWRC Inform: Training for Solicitors
Last week we were delighted to host our first SWRC Inform seminar on Domestic Abuse and Scots Law – Training for Solicitors. The seminar provided delegates with the knowledge and practical tools –...
What Solicitors need to know about Domestic Abuse
Welcome to the first in our series of blog posts on our first SWRC Inform seminar Domestic Abuse and Scots Law – Training for Solicitors, delivered by Helen Hughes last week. Today we’re going to be...