Charities are reluctant to publicly condemn decisions taken by SNP ministers in fear of being financially "silenced", it has been claimed.

Clare MacGillivray, director of Making Rights Real (MRR) said third sector organisations have praised the "bold" actions of her organisation.

It withdrew from the government's Scottish National Action Plan leadership group on human rights after ministers shelved the Human Rights Bill.

The proposed law would have incorporated UN treaties, ensuring the right to food, housing and healthcare.

Ms MacGillivray wrote a letter to First Minister John Swinney last month, warning the withdrawal should serve as a "wake up call" amid the "betrayal".

So far, other organisations involved in the leadership panel have not taken the decision to withdraw, despite expressing significant concerns.

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Writing exclusively for The Herald on Sunday, she said: "This all boils down to a Government that doesn't walk the talk of tackling poverty and human rights breaches.

"Instead it gaslights with empty promises and little commitment to delivering real change.

"The strength of the voluntary sector is in speaking truth to power to Government, holding them accountable for decisions which impact the most marginalised."

However, she said many organisations do not feel they have the ability to speak out.

"But the long arm of the Government often stretches to silence organisations that receive funding from the state," she said.

"Since announcing our intention to resign from the Snap leadership panel, numerous third sector leaders have personally reached out to applaud the decision, describing our actions as "brave" and "bold".

"Many have confided that they cannot display this support publicly because they receive state funding."

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government remains committed to the Human Rights Bill, but stressed ministers need more to to consider the "complex" legislation and how it interferes with reserved legislation.

The Bill was dropped from the Scottish Government's Programme for Government, which sets out the agenda for the year ahead.

It was previously promised by Humza Yousaf in his first year in government. But it now is unlikely to be passed before the Scottish Parliament election in 2026.

Ms MacGillivray added: "We have seen in recent weeks and months a third sector weary from broken promises, cheap talk and little action in realising rights, speaking publicly about how failures in government are impacting rights holders."

In delaying the Human Rights Bill, Ms MacGillivray said ministers “turned their backs on the most marginalised who desperately need these protections”.

“This is more than a missed opportunity – it’s a betrayal of those who need change the most,” she said.

C-Change and the Human Rights Consortium Scotland (HRCS) are two organisations also on the Snap leadership group.

While the financial element has not been discussed by both organisations, both told The Herald progress on human rights was "stuck".

Dr Sam Smith, chief executive of C-Change, said: "It feels that we had a bit of momentum moving forward around human rights in Scotland. 

"Now it feels like a retrenchment on all sides, which is disappointing. We share some of the views of Making Rights Real, absolutely, and we have to make a decision about whether our long-term involvement is making a difference."

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Meanwhile, the HRCS told us it shares "concerns" of the delay, however they are "committed" to their role in the Snap leadership group.

A spokeswoman said: "Scotland faces significant challenges in meeting its existing human rights obligations, particularly for those at risk of sleeping rough this winter.

"If we truly believe in securing a human rights framework that transforms lives, the Consortium must continue to engage and advocate for urgent policy measures that ensure these rights are not just theoretical but fully realised and upheld on the ground."

Ms Somerville, the Social Justice Secretary, said: “We are determined to embed a human rights-based approach in everything we do and I am committed to working with stakeholders on practical action to advance rights now and prepare the public sector for new duties in the future.

“The Human Rights Bill is an opportunity to build a human rights culture across public services in Scotland and increase accountability for meeting people's everyday rights.

"For the first time in 14 years we have an opportunity to work constructively with a new UK Government which appears more willing to address issues together, including how devolution is working in practice, and I hope this will continue to be the case.

“We remain open to engagement with civil society on this work. We have a singular opportunity now to get these proposals right, to produce a Bill that provides clarity for public bodies, so that it can be implemented effectively and make a real impact for rights-holders in their everyday lives.”