FOI22/23 039 Human Rights Due Diligence

Date published: 28/09/2022

In line with freedom of information legislation, I would be grateful if you could comply with the following requests.

Please give me a list of human rights due diligence checks your organisation has conducted since the publication of the Scottish Government document, Guidance on due diligence: human rights, detailing in each case whether or not you proceeded with an investment relationship or business agreement following the undertaking of these checks. Please also detail any instances of non-compliance with the guidance that have been reported. If unable to provide such a list, please confirm for me whether your organisation was previously aware of or has ever given consideration to this guidance, including whether you are aware of having been notified of it by a representative of the Scottish Government or other public body.

SQA's response

1 The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is fully aware of the ‘Guidance on Due Diligence: Human Rights’ document as published by Scottish Government on 14 June 2018.

2 SQA acknowledges and fully accepts the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and, the aforementioned advice and guidance issued by the Scottish Government on human rights.

3 Based on this guidance from Scottish Government, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) developed and implemented a Human Rights and Due Diligence Policy with appropriate Guidance and checks undertaken. This can be accessed on the SQA website at Human Rights Policy and Due Diligence Guidance - SQA  

4 SQA has zero financial investments with any organisation as noted in the Guidance document from Scottish Government.

5 As a result of the implementation of our Human Rights Policy and Guidance, there has been no non-compliance of organisations or individuals that SQA wishes to engage with.

6 In light of information from various sources during our checks, SQA decided to step back from markets in:

Myanmar

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brunei

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Kingdom of Bahrain