Ian Duddy to chair Scottish Human Rights Commission

The Scottish Parliament will today be asked to confirm the appointment of Ian Duddy as the new chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, following an open recruitment process.

Mr Duddy is expected to succeed Judith Robertson, whose six year term of office comes to a close later this month. He will take up post in June 2022.

A senior civil servant and former UK ambassador, from 2011-2016 Mr Duddy led the UK team at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, working closely with civil society, governments and national human rights institutions. More recently, he led the Human Rights & Rule of Law Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, working on a variety of themes including justice, war crimes, modern slavery, religious freedom, and the European Court of Human Rights. 

Mr Duddy was also a senior sponsor for inclusion and equality within the UK civil service. He has worked in Europe, South America and Afghanistan, on issues including child safeguarding, gender, education, and freedom of expression. He lives in Edinburgh and has a Master's degree in development and management.