1. Introduction and definitions

1.1 This Toolkit is provided by the Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, Leith Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, to support public sector organisations in Scotland to embed equality and human rights into their work.

1.2 By accessing or using the Mainstreaming Equality and Human Rights Toolkit (“the Toolkit”), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these conditions please cease Use of the Toolkit immediately.

1.3 In these terms and conditions the following capitalised defined terms have the following meanings when used in these terms and conditions.

Site: means the website or portal used to host the content of the Toolkit provided by the Scottish Government;

Terms: means these terms and conditions of use of the Site and the Toolkit;

Toolkit: means the Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Toolkit provided by the Scottish Government on this Site;

User: means any public organisations, partner of a public organisation or any corporate or personal individual that uses the Site and /or the Toolkit;

Us or We; means the Scottish Government.

You: means “the User”

2. Use of the Toolkit

2.1 The Toolkit is free to use and intended for public sector organisations, and individuals working to advance equality and human rights in Scotland.

2.2 You may view, download, and print content from the Toolkit for non-commercial use and for the internal use of the User’s public sector organisation or for the use of your partner organisation to a public sector organisation, provided that the source is acknowledged.

2.3 You may not reproduce, distribute, or modify the Toolkit content for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the Scottish Government.

3. Disclaimer

3.1 The Toolkit provides general guidance only. It is not intended to constitute legal or professional advice.

3.2 The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While all resources included in this Toolkit have been reviewed for quality using an internal assessment framework, the Scottish Government cannot guarantee that the resources included in this toolkit will provide a user with either legal compliance or accuracy as regards the current applicable law. The Scottish Government make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the Site and/or the Toolkit or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the Site or in the Toolkit for any purpose. Any reliance a User places on such information is therefore strictly at the User’s own risk.

3.3 Nothing in this Toolkit, or in any of its associated resources, is intended to constitute legal advice. The information on the Site and Toolkit is not intended to address a User’s particular requirements. Users should seek their own independent legal advice regarding any legal matters relevant to their own specific facts and circumstances. Neither the Scottish Government nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information found or offered on this site or in this Toolkit for any particular purpose. The information provided on the Site and/or the Toolkit is for information only and is not legal or any other kind of advice upon which a User or any third party may rely. The Scottish Government expressly exclude liability for any inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

3.4 If the User finds any inaccurate information on the Site let Us know and We will correct it, where We agree, as soon as practicable.

3.5 Inclusion of any third party resource or website link does not imply endorsement by the Scottish Government of the relevant resource or confirmation warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of any legal information or any other information that may be provided by the third party resource or website link.

3.6 Subject to Clause 10, Users are responsible for ensuring that any actions taken based on Toolkit content will meet their specific legal and regulatory obligations. Users use of any information or services on this Site and /or on any third party resource or linked website is entirely at the User’s own risk, for which the Scottish Government shall not be liable.

4. Copyright and Intellectual Property

4.1 With the exception of third party content used on this website, all site content created by Scottish Government is © Crown copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
“This site may feature content and materials of third parties whose prior written consent for the use of such content and links to their website(s) have been obtained in advance. If unauthorised content is identified please email us at ehrmainstreamingtoolkit@gov.scot for its removal pending due authorisation from the content owner.

4.2 The Site and the Toolkit contains copyright material, trade names and other proprietary information, which may include, but not be limited to: text, software, photos, graphics and may in future include video, graphics, music, downloadable pdf format articles, and sound. The entire contents of the Site and the Toolkit are protected by copyright law. The Scottish Government, or its licensors, own copyright and/or database rights in the selection, co-ordination, arrangement and enhancement of such content, as well as owning copyright in the content original to it. The User may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit, any of the content, in whole or in part except as provided in these Terms.

4.3 You must not remove or alter any copyright notices or acknowledgements.

4.4 A User may download information from the Site and the Toolkit for the purposes of assisting the User’s public sector organisation in Scotland to embed equality and human rights into their work. Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law, no copying, redistribution, retransmission, publication or commercial exploitation of downloaded material will be permitted without the express permission of the Scottish Government and that of the copyright owner. In the event of any permitted copying, redistribution or publication of copyright material, no changes in or deletion of author attribution, trademark legend or copyright notice shall be made. Users hereby acknowledge that Users do not acquire any ownership rights by downloading copyright material.

4.5 The Scottish Government in this Site and/or this Toolkit provide hypertext links to other sites which are operated by other people and/or organisations. Using such a link means a User is leaving the Scottish Government Site and Toolkit and the Scottish Government take no responsibility for, and give no warranties, guarantees or representations in respect of any linked sites.

4.6 Barring from the Site: The Scottish Government reserve the right to bar Users from the Site, on a permanent or temporary basis at the sole discretion of the Scottish Government. Any such User shall be notified and must not then attempt to use the Site and/or the Toolkit under any other name or through any other user.

5. Accessibility

5.1 The Toolkit has been designed to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. We are committed to continuous accessibility improvements. If you encounter barriers or have suggestions for enhancing accessibility, please let us know via ehrmainstreamingtoolkit@gov.scot.

6. Privacy

6.1 The Toolkit does not collect personal data from users. Any data collected through feedback forms or surveys will be handled in accordance with the Scottish Government’s privacy policy.

7. Changes to the Toolkit and Terms

7.1 The Scottish Government may update the Site and the Toolkit content and these Terms and Conditions at any time. Users are encouraged to check for updates regularly.

7.2 Continued use by a User of the Toolkit following any changes constitutes acceptance by that User of the revised Terms.

8. User Conduct

8.1 Users of the Toolkit are expected to engage with its content in a respectful, inclusive, and lawful manner.

In particular Users of the Toolkit shall:

• not use the Toolkit to promote discriminatory, offensive, or harmful views or practices.
• not misrepresent the Toolkit’s content or use it in a way that undermines its purpose of advancing equality and human rights.
• not attempt to interfere with the functionality, security, or accessibility of the Toolkit.

8.2 The Scottish Government reserves the right to restrict access to the Toolkit or take other appropriate action in response to misuse or breaches of these Terms.

9. Contact

9.1 For questions, feedback, or requests related to these Terms and Conditions, please contact:
Email: ehrmainstreamingtoolkit@gov.scot

9.2 We welcome feedback to improve the Toolkit. Suggestions or concerns can be submitted via the contact email above. Updates may be made based on user input and evolving best practices.

10. Liability of the Scottish Government for the Site and the Toolkit

10.1 The Scottish Government provide most information on this Site free of any access charge. Where not charged for, the information provided on the Site is provided on the basis of no liability for the information given.

10.2 The Scottish Government accept liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or responsibility for fraudulent misrepresentation that cannot, under English or Scots law, be excluded.

10.3 The Scottish Government are a distributor (and not a publisher) of content supplied by third parties and users of the Site and the Toolkit. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, or users, are those of the authors or distributors and not of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government does not necessarily endorse nor is the Scottish Government responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice or statement made on the Site made by any third party.

11. Legal jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution

11.1 Scottish law shall apply to these terms, notwithstanding the jurisdiction where the User is based. Users irrevocably agree that the courts of Scotland shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of, under, or in connection with these Terms and for those purposes irrevocably submit all disputes to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts. The place of performance shall be Scotland.

12. General

12.1 Any formal legal notices should be sent to the Scottish Government at the office address set out at the start of these Site and Toolkit use terms and conditions and must also be confirmed by email to: ehrmainstreamingtoolkit@gov.scot

12.2 Failure by the Scottish Government to enforce a right does not result in waiver of such right.

12.3 Users may not assign or transfer any rights they may have in terms of this policy or their use of the Site.

12.4 Nothing in these Terms is intended to, nor shall it, confer any benefit on a third party whether under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) (Scotland) Act 2017 or otherwise.

12.5 We may amend these Terms at any time by posting a variation on the Site.