Speak up for the Human Rights Act: Take action!

 

If you have 20 minutes:

 
  • Read BIHR's briefing on the Commission and its Discussion Paper which identifies some of the key human rights issues and tells you what BIHR will be saying. If you are short of time the most important bits to read are section 1: A summary of BIHR's key concerns and or recommendations and section 6: Responding to the Discussion Paper Questions and Appendix A: A refresher on the Human Rights Act: The rights covered and how it works.
  • Forward the link to the briefing to your contacts, networks, members, etc. and encourage them to respond
  • Tweet about the consultation. Check out our tweets on @BIHRhumanrights You can re-tweet our posts on the consultation!

 

If you have an hour:

 
  • All the 20 minute actions - above!

 

If you have a few hours:

 
  • All the 1 hour actions - above!
  • Read the consultation document – there may be other issues that are relevant to you or your organisation
  • Publish an article about these issues on your website, newsletter, blog etc., and promote it to you members, networks and contacts
  • Write a short response to the consultation flagging up key concerns:
o   Remember you can cut and paste ANY of the information from BIHR's briefing which you can access it here
o   KEY TIP for drafting your submission: Remember to start your submission by explaining why the current rights, duties and mechanisms in the Human Rights Act (HRA) are important, that the HRA is the minimum floor for protection and if this process really is about strengthening the protection of rights then there is no need to scrap or weaken the HRA. Then explain that if this process is about strengthening the protection of rights you would like to see certain things (e.g. additional rights, entrenched rights, etc.) but this should not be taken as evidence for the repeal, replacement or limitation of the HRA.
o   Send your responses to responses@commissiononabillofrights.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Commission on a Bill of Rights, Postpoint 9.55102, Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ.
 

Remember if you have found BIHR's briefing helpful and/or you do use it please let us know, we keep track of the impact of our policy work to help us to make the case to support our work: info@bihr.org.uk Thanks¬ 

 

If you have a full day...

 
  • All the few hour actions - above!
  • Find out the views of your members, networks, contacts, friends and family! You can compile their thoughts on standing up for the Human Rights Act in a letter, on a website, or on film and send these to the Commission. 
  • Find out what others are doing and see if you can do some joint working on this issue 
  • Write a short response to the consultation flagging up key concerns:
o   Remember you can cut and paste ANY of the information from BIHR's briefing which you can access it here
o   KEY TIP for drafting your submission: Remember to start your submission by explaining why the current rights, duties and mechanisms in the Human Rights Act (HRA) are important, that the HRA is the minimum floor for protection and if this process really is about strengthening the protection of rights then there is no need to scrap or weaken the HRA. Then explain that if this process is about strengthening the protection of rights you would like to see certain things (e.g. additional rights, entrenched rights, etc.) but this should not be taken as evidence for the repeal, replacement or limitation of the HRA.
o   Send your responses to responses@commissiononabillofrights.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Commission on a Bill of Rights, Postpoint 9.55102, Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ. 
  • Remember if you have found BIHR's briefing helpful and/or you do use it please let us know, we keep track of the impact of our policy work to help us to make the case to support our work: info@bihr.org.uk Thanks!

 

Remember this first stage of consultation by the Commission on a UK Bill of Rights closes on 11 November 2011.

 

Return to the main page to find out more about why we need to speak up for the Human Rights Act and what you can do to get involved in telling the Government not to undermine this important law and the legal protection of our human rights

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