Weekly Human Rights News: 21-10-22

Nannette Youssef, Policy Officer from the Runnymede Trust wrote a blog for our “Why our Human Rights Act Matters…” blog series. In the blog, Nannette shared how the Human Rights Act has played a fundamental role in progressing racial equality and justice.

If you would like to write a blog on why our Human Rights Act matters, you can email Helen at hwalden@bihr.org.uk.

This week, we continued our programme of work with staff who work in children’s inpatient mental health services across England. This programme has been co-developed and co-delivered with our Lived Experience Experts Charli, Hanna and Kirsten.

One participant said about the programme this week: "Informative...helped link human rights to my role in a meaningful manner. Everyone must attend a session to get a clear understanding of human rights."

The Prime Minister, Liz Truss, resigned

On 20 October 2022, Liz Truss announced that she would resign from the role of Prime Minister. A new Prime Minister is expected to be decided by Friday 28 October, following votes by Conservative MPs. If MPs are split on who to back and two candidates remain, then party members will decide in an online vote.

Source: Guardian

The House of Lords’ International Agreements Committee have released a report criticising the UK Government’s decision to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

In the report, the Committee highlighted the Human Rights concerns about the policy, particularly relating to Article 3, the right to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment. They said that because the policy had serious human rights implications, it should have been scrutinised by Parliament before the agreement with Rwanda was made.

You can read the report here

University tuition fee rules in Scotland found to breach human rights

In a case before the Court of Session in Scotland, Ola Jasim challenged the Scottish Government’s rule that to access free tuition fees you had to be resident in Scotland for a fixed period of time. Ola has lived in Scotland since 2011 and was two months short of the required time to be eligible for free tuition fees. After considering the right to education (Article 2, Protocol 1) and the right to be free from discrimination (Article 14), the Court of Session found that these rules breached the Human Rights Act.

Source: BBC

Airline has pulled out of Rwanda scheme

Following a campaign from Freedom of Torture, the airline hired by the UK Government to take part in the deportations of asylum seekers to Rwanda has pulled out of the scheme and will not operate flights to Rwanda in the future.

Source: Freedom from Torture

The Care Quality Commission released their annual report

Today, 21^st October, the Care Quality Commission have released their annual report on the state of health care and adult social care in England 2021/22. They highlighted issues with access to care and inequalities in care. Their areas of concern included maternity care, care for people with learning disabilities and Autism and Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. As a regulatory body, the Care Quality Commission has responsibilities under the Human Rights Act to ensure that public bodies, like NHS trusts, are respecting people’s human rights.  

You can read their annual report here