The establishment of the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS) represents a significant and long-awaited step in building national infrastructure to address structural and institutional racism in Scotland. As the host organisation now entering the mobilisation phase, we want to take a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought us to this point. Before we do so, however, we want to recognise the vital work that has been essential in establishing AROS. We are immensely grateful to all who have done work before us, from the many communities who have provided vital input from their lived experience to the groups established to support the design of AROS.
Foundations for Change
The creation of AROS is rooted in a wider recognition – across communities, government, and public life – that Scotland needs sustained, long-term action to tackle systemic racism. Research highlighted the need for permanent, independent structures to support anti-racism efforts, with the creation of a national observatory to gather evidence, track progress, and support accountability across sectors being identified as essential.
The Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group (AIGG) was established by the Scottish Government in 2022 to commence this work. The group, made up of people with lived experience of racism and with expertise across civil society, academia, and public policy, was tasked with shaping the early vision and practical steps required to bring national anti-racism infrastructure to life.
Co-Design in Action
One of the AIGG’s core principles was that the development of any anti-racism infrastructure must be co-designed with those most impacted by racism. It was out of this commitment that the Design Advisory Group (DAG) was formed in 2023.
The DAG operated independently of government and was made up of individuals with deep expertise, community connections, and lived experience. Over the course of a year, the group consulted widely with communities to understand issues and advise on how AROS might be set up. DAG developed a dedicated website for this work that remains accessible via web archive; archived DAG reports can also be accessed via the archive on this website.
From the work that has gone before the vision for AROS is clear: it needs to be a bold, independent body that brings together data, lived experience, and community-led knowledge to challenge systemic racism and drive accountability across Scotland.
With the DAG’s work now complete, responsibility for taking forward the next phase of AROS has moved to us – the host organisation – to lead on its establishment.
Looking Ahead
We are now entering the mobilisation phase, which focuses on setting up the Observatory team and building the organisational foundations needed to make AROS a reality. This includes recruiting the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO), wider staff team, and an Advisory Board.
We remain committed to carrying forward the principles that have shaped AROS so far: co-design, accountability, independence, and a focus on racial justice. The work of the AIGG and DAG has laid a strong foundation, and we are building from this with care and purpose.
AROS is not just an institution – it is part of a wider movement for justice, equity, and change in Scotland. As we begin this new phase, we honour the efforts of all those who have contributed to its development so far, especially the DAG and AIGG, whose work brought us to this point.
We look forward to continuing this journey with communities and partners across Scotland as we work to build a national observatory.
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