We are 80 years on from the end of World War Two, and fewer and fewer folk with a living memory of that conflict are with us each year. And over a century on from World War One it is up to folk in the present day to keep remembering the fallen in these conflicts.

The end of World War Two saw many of the countries involved take the opportunity to set a new rights-based order.

This included the signing of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) by members of the Council of Europe, including the UK, in Rome on 4 November 1950. The UK was one of the first to ratify it in 1951.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the signing of the ECHR, I was pleased to hear First Minister John Swinney reiterate Scotland’s commitment to human rights, equality and dignity for all.

This, after all, was a document signed with the aim of preventing the atrocities of war happening again in Europe. It has stood as a pillar to ensure human rights are upheld for the past 75 years.

In the face of ongoing political attacks from some quarters, the First Minister was clear in his wholehearted support for the ECHR and membership of the Council of Europe and the vital role it plays to protect human rights.

If the UK ever left the ECHR, folk in Scotland would lose the ability to challenge violations in the European Court, and the UK would be sending an appalling message on the international stage. That is not the future that I want for Scotland, and we must stand firm in championing human rights.

The ECHR has been critical in securing justice for ordinary people in their everyday lives – including protecting freedom of religion in the workplace and supporting rights for minority groups.  With some increasingly extreme political voices advocating against these rights, it is vital that those of us who believe in human rights and equality redouble our efforts to stand behind them.

With London-based parties moving ever further right as a reaction to the rise of Reform UK in opinion polls, folk need to remember that it was Nigel Farage – one of the leading voices for withdrawing from the ECHR – that pushed so hard for what has been a disastrous Brexit.

I don’t have to remind folk in Orkney that they – along with voters in all 31 other Scottish local authority areas – didn’t vote for that. In fact, we voted by 62% to 38% to remain in the EU, yet were dragged out against our will.

The only vote that makes sense for folk who can see the damage of Brexit and who want to protect human rights, is for the SNP and independence – and a rejection of right-leaning parties that would undo even more of our rights.

This is a regular column by SNP MSP Emma Roddick. All other Highlands and Islands MSPs have been offered the same space in the Orkney News to share their personal views.