Human Rights -Week 3

Human Rights

Fundamental rights and freedoms entitled to every person from birth until death, regardless of status.

Key Principles

Values such as dignity, fairness, equality, respect, and independence that underpin human rights.

Indivisibility

Human rights are universal and inalienable, meaning they cannot be taken away, though some may be restricted in specific circumstances.

Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998

UK law that incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into domestic law.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

Established the rule of law, parliamentary supremacy, and protections against arbitrary governance.

United Nations Charter (1945)

Created to promote peace and human rights post-WWII, signed by 50 nations.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948)

Milestone document recognizing fundamental human rights globally.

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950)

Protects civil and political rights, inspired by the UDHR.

Race Relations Act (1965)

First UK law aimed at preventing racial discrimination.

Sex Discrimination Act (1975)

Banned discrimination based on gender or marital status.

Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

Prohibited discrimination against disabled individuals in employment and services.

European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)

Established to ensure compliance with human rights obligations by signatory states.

Individual Petition

Right for individuals to file complaints of human rights violations to the ECtHR.

Protocol 14 (2010)

Introduced stricter criteria for case admissibility to manage the backlog of cases at the ECtHR.

Article 2 ECHR

Right to life.

Article 3 ECHR

Freedom from torture and inhumane treatment.

Article 5 ECHR

Right to liberty and security.

Article 6 ECHR

Right to a fair trial.

Section 3 HRA

UK courts must interpret domestic laws compatibly with the ECHR.

Section 6 HRA

Public authorities must not act in ways that breach Convention rights.

Judicial Review

Legal process allowing courts to review public authority actions for legality.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

Established to promote equality and protect human rights in the UK.

Bill of Rights Bill 2022

Proposed reforms to replace the HRA, raising thresholds for legal claims and limiting court powers.

Clean Air Bill

Proposal to establish the right to clean air in England and Wales.