Human Rights Day Civil Society Letter 2020 On global Human Rights Day 110 groups from across the UK issue an open letter to the Prime Minister and political leaders, urging them to respond proportionately to Covid-19, protect people’s rights and the rule of law, and to stand by the Human Rights Act In the week that the UK Government launches a review of the Human Rights Act; today, over 110 organisations have issued and open letter to the Prime Minister and political leaders across the UK urging them to stand with them for the “shared values of equal dignity, respect, fairness and decency; to protect people’s rights and the rule of law, to stand for the Human Rights Act.” Issued on the 10 December, global Human Rights Day, the open letter highlights the extraordinary events of 2020, and in particular the pandemic, noting that “human rights must not be an afterthought in times of crisis; human rights were born of disaster and must guide the Covid-19 response and recovery”. The open call to stand firm on the human rights of all people across the UK comes from grassroots groups, local charities, international organisations, professional bodies and statutory Commissioners, health and care providers, lawyers, and support groups. From community groups in York to household names like Amnesty International and Marie Curie, from social work associations to dementia charities like Alzheimer’s Scotland, to self-led disability groups like All Wales People First to the Law Society of Northern Ireland; the message is clear; human rights matter for us all. Together the groups note “Too many people have suffered disproportionately, including BAME communities, older people, disabled people, children, women, carers and more.” It notes that the UK’s Human Rights Act contains “rights which belong to us all … to life, liberty, freedom from harm, non-discrimination, family, wellbeing, and choice.” These “powerful” tools have been” under-used” in the response to the pandemic; the response must “protect the equal human dignity of us all, and human rights legislation offers a way to navigate this maze, to balance risk with rights.” The open letter is coordinated by the British Institute of Human Rights. Speaking on the release of the open letter, BIHR Director, Sanchita Hosali said: “This year we’ve all witnessed just how important our rights are, may of us have felt sharply what family rights means, our wellbeing has been tested, we’ve faced restrictions on our liberty, and measures which have discriminated. Even, or especially in the grips of this pandemic, we can do better than blanket “do not resuscitate” orders placed the medical files of disabled people and children; better than the disproportionate use of police powers against BAME communities; better than leaving older people abandoned in care homes, many with dementia unable to remember their loved ones after almost a year apart.” “Our Human Rights Act, rather than being reviewed, needs to be used for the purpose it was intended; to help us build a culture of respect where every institution and decision-maker thinks about all of our rights how to balance these in proportionate ways that keep us safe and well whilst respecting our dignity. That is the kind of decent society the Human Rights Act can help us achieve. Today, over 110 organisations spanning the length and breadth of the UK recognise this; we see the difference our Human Rights Act can make for people in everyday ways that make all of our lives better. In these most difficult of times, our Human Rights Act can help navigate the maze of uncertainty, securing the accountable and people-focused exercise of power we all need.” On a day in which the global community marks the importance of human rights, over 110 groups across the UK will “stand together, proud of our human rights standards in the UK, but worried that political rhetoric is again turning towards questioning our laws, with increasing concerns that people’s ability to seek accountability will be reduced.” They call on the Prime Minister and political leaders to “stand with us for the dignity of all people, for respect, fairness and decency; for a proportionate response to these extraordinary times that focuses on protecting people’s rights and the rule of law. To stand with us for our Human Rights Act.” Dowload the letter as a PDF here. Notes The 10 December marks global Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR) following WW2. In the preamble to the European Convention on Human Rights 1950, the Council of Europe reaffirms the UHDR aim of securing universal and effective observance of human rights. The UK’s Human Rights Act 1998 creates legal duties that bring these Convention rights into UK law and makes the enforceable here at home. The Human Rights Day open letter has been signed by over 110 organisations: British Institute of Human Rights Access Social Care Advocacy Focus AIRE Centre All Wales People First Alzheimer Scotland Alzheimer’s Society Amnesty UK Article 12 in Scotland Article 39 Asylum Link Merseyside AVA (Against Violence and Abuse) Birthrights brap Bristol Mind British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Campaign for Freedom of Information Carers UK Centre for Women’s Justice Certitude London Changing Our Lives Child Rights Alliance for England Children in Scotland Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales Childrens Law Centre Choice Support Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) Compassion in Dying Detention Action Disability Wales Discrimination Law Association EachOther End Violence Against Women English Pen Every Child Protected Against Trafficking Friends, Families and Travellers Garden Court Chambers Grandparents Plus Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) HEAR Equality and Human Rights Network Helen Bamber HIV Scotland Hourglass Human Rights and Equality Group of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Human Rights Consortium Scotland Human Rights Watch Humanist Society Scotland Humanists UK Inclusion London INQUEST Judith Trust Juno Women’s Aid Just Fair Just for Kids Law JUSTICE Latin American Women's Rights Service (LAWRS) Law Centres Network Learning Disability England Legal Action Group Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) Leigh Day Liberty Marie Curie Mary Ward Legal Centre Mental Health UK Migrants Organise Ltd Mind n-compass National Alliance of Women’s Organisations National Care Forum National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) National Survivor User Network (NSUN) nia Heléna Herklots CBE, Older People's Commissioner for Wales POhWER Prison Reform Trust Public Law Project Quakers in Britain RAMFEL (Refugee & Migrant Forum of Essex and London) REDRESS Refugee Action York Refugee Council Relatives & Residents Association René Cassin Restorative Justice for All International Institute Rethink Mental Illness Scottish Care Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance Scottish Pen Shared Lives Plus SMK Law Solicitors Southall Black Sisters Stonewall Suffolk Law Centre Tai Pawb The British Geriatric Society The Challenging Behaviour Foundation The Law Society of Scotland Tower Hamlets Law Centre UNISON Unlock Democracy Voiceability Voluntary Organisations Disability Group Wish Women's Aid Women’s Budget Group York Human Rights City Network Young Legal Aid Lawyers Youth Access ForcesWatch ROTA – Race on the Agenda tide – together in dementia everyday Turning Point Rightful Lives