Human rights are underpinned by the principle of universality, and so too is BIHR's work.
We enable any group that can benefit from the Human Rights Act (HRA), and this means we support a wide range of advocacy, grassroots and voluntary groups, recognising specific marginalisation whilst building solidarity among diverse communities.
We also work with public bodies who have legal duties to uphold people's human rights, whether that's a local council, NHS services, housing association, school, or government department.
We ensure national decision-makers understand people's human rights in law and their experiences, to integrate this into right-respecting law and policy development.
Genuinely UK-wide
We are a genuinely UK-wide charity, living our commitment to human rights across the country. Whether it's a city, town or rural area, in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, we work directly in communities. By understanding local contexts, we tailor our approach to meet the specific needs of diverse communities across the UK.
Our model emphasises working within and across communities, building on place-based strengths while fostering solidarity across various issues, because human rights are universal.
Through our work we aim to prevent poor public decision-making that risks people’s human rights, whether locally or nationally, ultimately striving for a society where everyone’s rights, as protected by the Human Rights Act, are respected and upheld without the need for court intervention.
You'll often hear us quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, a key architect of universal human rights law, who said:
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”
Universalism: Why we don't work with a single community or issue focus
Human rights are underpinned by the concept of universalism; they are for everyone. This underpins our approach, we do not work with a single community, or issue or in a specific place. Instead, we engage with a wide range of communities to enable Human Rights Act advocacy and approaches that are rooted in reality, comprehensive and effective.
- Address Diverse Needs: Every community – whether of interest or geography - faces unique challenges. By engaging with multiple groups, we gain a deeper understanding of their specific needs, allowing us to co-develop targeted solutions.
- Recognise and Respond to Interconnected Issues: Human rights challenges often overlap. Working with various communities enables us to address these interconnected issues more effectively, promoting holistic solutions.
- Building Stronger Alliances: Working across communities helps build common concern, solidarity and collaboration, creating a powerful collective voice for human rights.
- Promoting Inclusivity: Focusing on just one group can marginalise others. Our broad engagement helps ensure that no one is left behind in benefiting from their Human Rights Act protections.
- Learning from Each Other: Each community brings its own expertise and insights, sharing knowledge and experience enhances advocacy and approaches to secure change through human rights.
At BIHR, we are committed to upholding human rights for all. Together, we can make meaningful positive social change.
The communities we work with
- Autistic people, and neurodiverse people
- Children and young people, especially those with care and support needs, including special needs
- Family carers and parent advocates
- Older people, including those in care or with support needs
- People from racialised and marginalised communities, including Black communities, and Gypsy, Roma & Traveller communities
- People in insecure or inadequate housing
- People in recovery from drug and alcohol recovery
- People with learning disabilities
- Disabled people more broadly
- People with mental health concerns
- Refugees and people seeking asylum
- Women experiencing and escaping violence
- And many more ...
Whilst we do not provide direct support to individuals, we work through a range of difference community groups and services including:
- Self-advocacy groups (e.g. for learning-disabled people)
- Independent advocacy groups
- Grassroots community organisations serving and/or led by marginalised groups
- Voluntary and community sector groups including charities, CICs and not for profits
- Public bodies including frontline services, local government, NHS, housing associations, health and care providers
- And many more ...
The key issues we address
Accessible Information: Advocating for the creation of accessible and inclusive information about rights, empowering people to understand and assert their rights effectively.
Accountability in Public Services: Working to increase accountability within public service systems, building improved services and trust in public institutions.
Dignity in Social Care: Addressing shortfalls in social care to ensure systems that uphold people’s dignity and quality of life.
Family and Community Life: Addressing threats to private and family life, advocating against inappropriate institutional interference and poor decision-making and the support people need to enjoy meaningful relationships, choice, and wellbeing.
Healthcare Decision-Making: Ensuring healthcare decisions, policies, practices and systems that respect individuals' rights.
Housing Rights: Ensuring access to housing rights for people who are too often marginalised or in insecure situations, to secure safe, stable and appropriate living conditions.
Independent Living Rights: Championing the rights of disabled people to live independently, ensuring they have the support and resources for fulfilling lives.
Reducing Use of Restraint and Seclusion: Supporting the elimination of inappropriate restraint, seclusion, or detention in a range of care settings, for safer environments and improved treatment for people.
Safeguarding People in Vulnerable Situations: Strengthening safeguarding for adults and children in vulnerable situations, enhancing protection and support for those at risk.
Unlawful Discrimination: Ensuring protection against unlawful discrimination based on sex, race, age, health status, disability, and more, leading to greater equality and fairness.
And much more …
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