The United Nations has been urged to monitor the impact of the UK Government's austerity measures, including its programme of welfare reform.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission, alongside the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has also asked the UN to scrutinise the UK Government's plan to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights.

A joint statement to the UN's Human Rights Council warns of growing concern about the public spending cuts.

"We are concerned by the effect of the economic crisis and austerity measures adopted by the UK Government on (the) enjoyment of human rights in the UK," the statement says.

"We are particularly concerned with their potential effect on women, children, ethnic minorities and disabled people."

It adds: "We recommend the UK Government ensures it respects human rights in budgetary decisions and carefully monitors the impact of policy on disadvantaged groups through equality and human rights impact assessments."

The submission, part of the Universal Periodic Review process under which the UK is examined every four years by the Human Rights Council, comes as the UK Government faces further criticism of its welfare reforms.

The submission also drew the council's attention to the debate about the future of human rights protection in the UK, including calls to repeal the Human Rights Act and create a UK Bill of Rights.

Professor Alan Miller, chairman of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said the Human Rights Act is an essential legal protection and that international organisations such as the UN should scrutinise and challenge plans to scrap it.