Our work
Our policy projects
At BIHR we amplify the voices of the people we support to positively influence policy that affects their human rights, whether that is individuals whose rights are at risk, the community groups that support them, or the staff in public bodies and services on the sharp end of implementing ill-considered changes.
We focus on combining our legal and practical expertise on human rights, with people’s real-life experiences, placing this at the heart of systems change that can secure protections for everyone. Our policy work has two strands:
Protecting our Human Rights Act
We all want to live safe and well, knowing that the authorities will support our rights; our Human Rights Act helps make this happen for everyone. We work to keep our law in place, in the face of an often hostile national government.
Protecting our Human Rights Act
We all want to live safe and well, knowing that the authorities will support our rights; our Human Rights Act helps make this happen for everyone. We work to keep our law in place, in the face of an often hostile national government.
Putting human rights into other laws
Putting human rights at the heart of other laws and policy, often called mainstreaming, to secure more rights-respecting laws and policies in the first place, rather than having to wait until things go wrong to make a human rights analysis.
Putting human rights into other laws
Putting human rights at the heart of other laws and policy, often called mainstreaming, to secure more rights-respecting laws and policies in the first place, rather than having to wait until things go wrong to make a human rights analysis.
Our approach to policy work
Our policy approach is holistic – a reinforcing circle that goes hand-in-hand with our programmes on human rights change in practice. We bring our practical expertise into policy work, and we bring our policy expertise into practical programmes.
We know from 20 years of work with people, community groups, and public services, that changing a policy does not automatically change practice by itself. We focus on everyday evidence from people and practitioners, alongside our expert human rights legal and practical analysis, to make change at the policy level. But more than this, once rights-respecting policy development is agreed, we are able to support the implementation of that change. People, communities, and practitioners consistently tell us this is vital.
Experience-Informed Research
Our policy work is underpinned by people’s lived experience. One of the ways we do this is through experience-informed research on key areas the impact people's lives.
Experience-Informed Research
Our policy work is underpinned by people’s lived experience. One of the ways we do this is through experience-informed research on key areas the impact people's lives.
The RITES Committee
Our RITES Committee (standing for real-life insights, tips, experiences and stories) is made up of experts by experience who have used our Human Rights Act to achieve change.
The RITES Committee
Our RITES Committee (standing for real-life insights, tips, experiences and stories) is made up of experts by experience who have used our Human Rights Act to achieve change.
Open Letters & Statements
Here you'll find our open letters and statements regarding human rights issues in the UK, including joint letters sent with other groups or organisations.
Open Letters & Statements
Here you'll find our open letters and statements regarding human rights issues in the UK, including joint letters sent with other groups or organisations.
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