NICOLA Sturgeon has said it is "inconceivable" MSPs will agree to the Human Rights Act being scrapped in Scotland.
The First Minister put Holyrood on a collision course with Westminster when she told an audience in Glasgow that David Cameron's plans to repeal the legislation were "wholly unnecessary".
Prime Minister David Cameron intends to replace the Human Rights Act, which enshrines in British laws the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), with a new British Bill of Rights.
He has claimed rulings by the European Court of Human Rights and their impact on laws in Britain have "devalued" human rights.
A minority of Tories oppose the idea, as do the Labour Party and other opposition parties, potentially making for a close-run vote in the House of Commons.
In Scotland, the proposal is further complicated by the 1998 Scotland Act, which states all legislation passed by Holyrood must be compatible with the ECHR.
Addressing an audience of civic leaders at the Pearce Institute, Govan, Ms Sturgeon said: "Responsibility for the Human Rights Act rests solely with the Westminster parliament, but European Convention rights are embedded into the devolution settlement and human rights itself is a devolved issue.
"That means that any attempt to repeal or amend the Human Rights Act is likely to require the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament.
"It is inconceivable – given the breadth of the support which the Human Rights Act commands across the Scottish Parliament – that such consent would be granted.
"The Scottish Government will certainly advocate that it is not granted."
She added: "The Scottish Government will also oppose any weakening of human rights protections – not just in Scotland, but across the whole of the UK.
"Human rights, after all, are not English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish rights. They are universal rights."
Scrapping the Human Rights Act, introduced by Labour under Tony Blair, was a key Tory election pledge.
During a visit to Scotland in May, Mr Cameron insisted he had a mandate to repeal the legislation across the UK.
He acknowledged the Scotland Act created legal complexities and said discussions would take place between the Scottish and UK governments on how the repeal would work in practice.
Ms Sturgeon was joined in Govan by Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, who said: "The First Minister of Scotland shows international leadership today.
"She vows to defend the Human Rights Act, the European Convention on Human Rights and the vulnerable against the powerful everywhere – including refugees.
"Her message leaves no room for doubt.
"Policies of divide and rule must not succeed in stripping us of our universal rights and freedoms."
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