Patricia Scotland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Scotland of Asthal
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Scotland in 2018
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| 6th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations | |
| Assumed office 1 April 2016 |
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| Head | |
| Preceded by | Kamalesh Sharma |
| Attorney General for England and Wales | |
| In office 28 June 2007 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Peter Goldsmith |
| Succeeded by | Dominic Grieve |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patricia Janet Scotland
19 August 1955 Dominica, British Windward Islands |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Profession | Barrister |
Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, born on 19 August 1955, is a well-known lawyer and politician from Dominica and Britain. She holds an important role as the sixth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. This means she leads a group of 56 countries that work together.
She was chosen for this job in 2015 and started on 1 April 2016. Baroness Scotland is the first woman ever to hold this position. Before this, she was a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament. She also served in the UK Government, including as the Attorney General for England and Wales. She has citizenship in both the United Kingdom and Dominica, her home country.
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Early Life and Education
Patricia Janet Scotland was born in Dominica on 19 August 1955. She was the tenth of twelve children. Her parents were Roman Catholic; her mother was from Dominica and her father from Antigua.
When she was two years old, her family moved to Walthamstow in London, England. She went to primary school and then to Walthamstow School for Girls. Later, she studied law at University College London. In 1977, she became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. She specialized in family law. A year later, she also became a barrister in Dominica.
In 1991, Patricia Scotland was given the special title of Queen's Counsel. This title is given to experienced lawyers who are highly respected. She also helped start a group of barristers called 1 Gray's Inn Square. In 1997, she was made a Baroness, which means she became a member of the House of Lords. Her full title became Baroness Scotland of Asthal.
Political Career
Baroness Scotland began her political career in the UK government. From 1999 to 2001, she worked at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Here, she helped manage the UK's relationships with countries like those in North America and the Caribbean. She also worked on laws related to the International Criminal Court.
In 2001, she became a Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department. She was responsible for changing civil laws, including rules about land ownership. She also worked on international matters and helped create the Charter of Rights in Europe.
From 2003 to 2007, Baroness Scotland was a Minister of State at the Home Office. In this role, she helped manage the criminal justice system and worked on law reforms. She worked under three different Home Secretaries during this time.
Attorney General
On 28 June 2007, Patricia Scotland was appointed Attorney General by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This was a very important job, as she became the chief legal adviser to the government. She was the first woman to hold this position since it was created in 1315.
She was also the last person to be both the Attorney General for England and Wales and the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. After this, Northern Ireland got its own Attorney General. Baroness Scotland then briefly became the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
Other Roles
After her time as Attorney General, Baroness Scotland continued to be active in politics. When the Labour Party was no longer in government, she became the Shadow Attorney General. This meant she was the main legal spokesperson for the opposition party.
In 2012, she was appointed as a special envoy to South Africa. This role involved helping to build trade relationships between the UK and South Africa. In 2014, she was also elected as an Alderman for the Bishopsgate area in the City of London.
Leading the Commonwealth
At a big meeting in 2015, Baroness Scotland was chosen to be the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This is a very important international role. She was nominated by her home country, Dominica. She became the sixth person to hold this position and the first woman. She started her role on 1 April 2016.
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As Secretary-General, she leads the Commonwealth, which is a group of countries that were once part of the British Empire. These countries work together on shared goals like democracy, development, and peace. Her first term was extended because of the global pandemic.
In 2022, she was re-elected for a second term as Secretary-General. She promised to serve for two more years. In September 2022, Baroness Scotland gave a scripture reading at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey.
Awards and Recognition
Baroness Scotland has received many awards for her work. In 2003, she was honored by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. She has been named "Peer of the Year" by Channel 4 and The House magazine. She also received the "Parliamentarian of the Year" award from the Spectator and the Political Studies Association.
She has received honorary degrees and was ranked as one of the most influential Black Britons by Powerlist in 2007, 2008, and 2010. In 2014, she became the Chancellor of the University of Greenwich. In 2015, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women.
Personal Life
Baroness Scotland lives in London and in Asthal, Oxfordshire. She is married to Richard Mawhinney, who is also a barrister. They have two sons.
She is also a patron for several organizations. These include the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence, Chineke! Foundation, Missio, and Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB).
See also
In Spanish: Patricia Scotland para niños
