Launch of #Act campaign!

With less than 30 days before the Commission on a UK Bill of Rights closes its public consultation, the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), has launched #Act, a new campaign to engage people in debates about the protection of our human rights.

Many people are simply not aware that there is a major review of the future of human rights laws taking place. Concerned by the lack of information and consultation, BIHR has launched the #Act campaign, calling on people to act to protect our human rights.

The Commission on a UK Bill of Rights was set up by the Coalition government to investigate a possible new Bill of Rights which might lead to the Human Rights Act being scrapped. These are questions of huge constitutional importance, which touch on the lives of every person in the UK. However, and despite the significance of the review, many people remain unaware of the Commission’s work. The opportunity for people to have their voice heard in this process is now running out: the public consultation closes on the 30 September and the Commission is due to report back to Government in less than 6 months’ time.

Those organisations and individuals who have engaged in the consultation process have overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for the Human Rights Act. BIHR’s analysis shows that around 80% of responses to the first consultation were either opposed to a Bill of Rights because the Human Rights Act is sufficient, or that a Bill of Rights should only be considered if it builds on the Human Rights Act.

This more recent round of consultation asks much more leading questions designed to solicit the case for a new Bill of Rights. It almost appears as if the Commission did not receive the information they wanted first time around so they are giving it another shot. This is why BIHR has launched the #Act campaign.

Stephen Bowen, Director of the British Institute of Human Rights said:

“The Human Rights Act matters for two very important reasons. The reality is that human rights abuses do occur here at home, the recent reminders of the cruelty at Winterbourne View are a stark example. At some point any one of us may need protection and the Human Rights Act is a safety net for us all, whether we need it right now or not.”

“Just as important, this debate is also about who we are. There is a lot of Human Rights Act bashing at the moment, unfortunately often led by some of our politicians and press. We must recognise these attacks on the Human Rights Act for what they are: not simply an assault on the law, but an assault on our country's traditional belief in basic human dignity. A belief in fairness and the importance of us all regardless of our status, our background, our wealth, our age or health.”

“That is why BIHR is joining with individuals and groups up and down the country – now is the time to #Act. The Human Rights Act is a bit like our health, we don't value it until it’s gone. So let's not wait until it’s too late to speak up, let's raise our voices together. To keep our Human Rights, #Act!”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For media enquiries please contact BIHR on 0207 882 5850 or Stephen Bowen on 07764 635836 / sbowen@bihr.org.uk

2. The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) BIHR is a national independent human rights charity that is committed to bringing rights to life in the UK. Founded over 40 years ago, we have pioneered work to animate and promote human rights. We work with civil society organisations and the public sector, equipping them to translate human rights principles and laws into living and practical tools for change. Through this work, we aim to realise the potential of human rights to empower people, and to provide a safety net for us all when our rights are compromised. Uniquely, BIHR harnesses its learning from putting human rights into action in everyday situations to underpin its policy positions. For further information about BIHR visit www.bihr.org.uk

3. For more information about BIHR’s #Act campaign visit www.bihr-act.org.uk

The Commission on a UK Bill of Rights published its second consultation paper on 11 July 2012. The closing date for this discussion paper is 30 September 2012. The Commission was created because the Coalition Government was faced with manifesto commitments ranging from scrapping the Human Rights Act 1998 to securing it. They attempted to bridge the divide by creating a Commission to “investigate the creation of a UK Bill of Rights”. For more information visit www.justice.gov.uk/about/cbr

4. The Human Rights Act 1998 brings most of the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK domestic law. The Human Rights Act does this by making the rights enforceable in the UK legal system and by placing a duty on all public authorities to act in a way that respects and fits with the rights in the European Convention on Human Rights. Prior to the Human Rights Act people in the UK could only access their rights in the ECHR by taking a legal case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

5. The British Institute of Human Rights believes that in the ten years since it was passed, the Human Rights Act has made a significant and positive contribution to the protection of human rights in the UK, not only in relation to headline grabbing issues such as pre-trial detention, but also in everyday matters such as accessing support services, health care, education, and being safe from violence and abuse. You can read about some of our case studies in BIHR’s The Human Rights Act: Changing Lives (2nd ed.) available here: http://tinyurl.com/nh5gxm and by visiting www.ourhumanrightsstories.org.uk