BIHR comments on the launch of the Human Rights Inquiry report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission

STATEMENT FROM THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

15 June 2009

Katie Ghose, Director of the British Institute of Human Rights said:

"As the pioneers of human rights practice in Britain, BIHR welcomes this report which shows how people are quietly using the language of the Human Rights Act to demand the basic decencies that we are all entitled to and only rarely pursuing their rights in the courtroom.

"The need for political leadership on human rights is crying out from this report. All the parties should be throwing their weight behind the Human Rights Act, which as this report illustrates is bedding down and giving people the language and confidence to challenge abuse and poor treatment, in hospitals, care homes and schools."

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

1. For more information please contact: Jean Candler, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, 020 7848 1839, switchboard 020 7848 1818, out of office 07985 982103, jcandler@bihr.org.uk 
2. Spokespersons from BIHR are available and will be present at the launch of the human rights inquiry report on Monday 15 June.
3. A number of the examples cited in the Inquiry report come from BIHR's report, 'The Human Rights Act: Changing Lives' which documents 31 case studies in which people have used the principles and language of the Human Rights Act to challenge unfair or poor treatment from public bodies. The Human Rights Act: Changing Lives' is freely available here
4. BIHR has developed the human rights based approach that has formed the basis of the good practice evidence illustrated in this report. BIHR supported many of the organisations quoted to develop human right approaches in their work, including Merseycare NHS Trust, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission and Southwark Council and has provided information and training for many other voluntary and public organisations. 
5. BIHR presented written and oral evidence to the Human Rights Inquiry and facilitated an evidence-gathering session for the Human Rights Inquiry of 40 voluntary and community organisations.
6. The Equality and Human Rights Commission's Human Rights Inquiry Report is available here.