In February, SCLD submitted a report and gave oral evidence to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as part of their review of the UK’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights (ICESCR). 

We provided detailed evidence of the significant barriers and challenges people with learning disabilities in Scotland experience in accessing their rights and made a series of recommendations for change at both a UK and Scottish Level. 

Our submission highlighted that some people with learning disabilities in Scotland are living in institutional settings for years without clinical need. And we called for sustainable health, care and housing solutions to help ensure people’s right to independent living in the community.  

The Committee has now published its report which includes findings and recommendations for progress on respecting, protecting and fulfilling ICESCR rights. 

SCLD strongly welcomes the Committee’s recommendation to the UK and Scottish Government to ‘ensure access to adequate housing for individuals with intellectual disabilities, enabling those residing in inpatient units to be discharged and preventing their institutionalisation’. 

This is a key area of focus for SCLD’s Housing and Independent Living Group (HILAG) which brings together professionals from housing, health and social care and government, as well as representatives from learning disability providers, member led organisations and people with learning disabilities.   

The group aims to promote and advance the progressive realisation of the right to adequate housing and independent living for people with learning disabilities including highlighting, creative and person-centred, housing and support solutions for people at risk of institutional living. 

SCLD and the HILAG will be working with stakeholders across Scotland to support the ICESCR recommendation to ensure access to adequate housing for people with learning disabilities in the community.