Cyfarfod y Gweithgor Opsiynau Deddfwriaethol ar Hawliau Dynol: 7 Ebrill 2025

Charles Whitmore (CW) (Chair), Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) / Cardiff University Wales Governance Centre
Rhian Davies (RD), Disability Wales
Victoria Vasey (VV), Women’s Equality Network (WEN) Wales
Dr Emily Kakoullis (EK), Cardiff University
Alicja Zalesinska (AZ), Tai Pawb
Simon Hoffman (SH), Swansea University 
Melissa Wood (MlW), Contractor
Sarah Nason (SN), Bangor University

Welsh Government officials

Matthew Wellington (MW), Head of strategic equality Human Rights and delivery planning
Lorna Hall (LH), Deputy Director, Equality and Human Rights
Katy Benson (KB), Head of Human Rights
Karyn Pittick (KP), Senior policy manager Human Rights
Danielle Burdett (DB), Policy manager Human Rights officer

Apologies

Elinor Puzey (EP), Equality and Human Rights Commission
Elisabeth Velina Jones (EVJ), Independent member

Welcome

The Chair welcomed members, noting the previous minutes had not been approved and proposed to review them together with the current meeting minutes for written approval. A welcome was extended to Katy Benson as the new head of the Welsh Government (WG) Human Rights branch. KB introduced herself and gave an overview of her background in research and social care.

Recap of actions and work since the last meeting

The Chair gave an update on work that has taken place since the last meeting including:

• CW replied to the Equality and Social Justice Committee’s letter, the response will be circulated to members for discussion at the next LOWG meeting.
• Discussion on the progress of various work pieces and the need for feedback from the group.
• MIW and CW have collaborated on a project plan and submitted it in advance of the deadline for the 2025/26 WG budget.
• The group was informed about a section in the project plan document regarding advisory groups. CW requested LOWG members to provide feedback if they have any information on advisory group contacts.

Action point: CW to review the minutes from the previous two LOWG meetings and circulate them to the group for written approval. 

Action point: CW to circulate response letter to ESJC to members for discussion at the next meeting.

Action point: All members to provide feedback on the project and forward work plan.

Template and analysis:

CW handed over to MIW and SH to discuss their work on the template and project plan, including the application of the template to Article 10 of CEDAW. SH gave an update on part 1 of the template which included:

• Final part 1 and part 2 templates applied to Article 10 of CEDAW and circulated. Part 1 covers the essence of the right, Wales' competence to incorporate it through devolved legislation, and implementation possibilities. It informs part 2 of key requirements.
• SH and MIW are considering part 3, focusing on the route to incorporation, its necessities, and additional benefits.
• CW suggested adding a concluding paragraph to part 1 to summarise the template's application to the article, along with SH and MIW’s reflective summaries.

MIW explained how information has been set out in the spreadsheet for the part 2 template. This included:

• Concluding observations from CEDAW 2019.
• Supporting points from NHRI reports and other Welsh specific information.
• Committee recommendations.
• Progress evidence looking at how the WG have taken the recommendations forward.
• Analysis from the EHRC human rights tracker.
• Identifying frameworks that could be used to address areas of deficit. CW asked that members provide comment on any interim steps, changes or adjustments that need to be made to the template.
• SH and MIW are considering ways to simplify the template information and improve document usability.
• CW inquired about the role of socioeconomic rights and separating the equalities dimension of the article. SH referenced article 10 of CEDAW, which involves the right to education, explaining that it could fall under socioeconomic rights. They would refer to ICESCR for the basis of the underlying right and then examine the equality aspect.
• SH stated that this work is complex and needs careful evaluation. Clarifying rights in the equality framework may require differentiating it from a rights framework for incorporation.

Action point: SH and MIW to continue progressing the work according to the project plan

• MW informed the group that WG is in the final stages of funding the work for the rest of 2025 to 2026.
• CW and EK are considering allocating part of the budget to enlist EK's assistance. Moving forward, CW will investigate the possibility of involving LOWG members with relevant expertise.
• The timeline indicates the next financial year, referring to the end of December 2025.
• SH and MIW are currently focusing on the rights that fall within WG's competence with this work. They will keep this work active on the agenda and report back to the group on the rights being analysed for consideration.
• SH and CW agreed that having a LOWG meeting every two months would be useful.
• RD noted capacity issues concerning the draft disability rights action plan and upcoming consultations.
• The group agreed to wait until part 3 is clearer before sharing information with stakeholders, being careful about the amount of detail provided.

Action point: Secretariat to liaise with CW to determine dates for future meetings to take place every 2 months going forward.

Actions

• Review the minutes from the previous two LOWG meetings and circulate them to the group for written approval: CW
• Circulate response letter to ESJC to members for discussion at the next meeting: CW
• Provide feedback on the project and forward work plan: all members
• Continue progressing the work according to the project plan: MIW and SH
• Determine dates for future meetings to take place every 2 months going forward: Secretariat