Commission warns against ‘regressive’ change to human rights laws

20 Mar 2015 02:54 PM

Changes to human rights laws that would water down the protections we all enjoy would be ‘regressive’ and undermine Britain’s reputation as a global leader that can challenge human rights abuses abroad, the Equality and Human Rights Commission warned recently.

The Commission is the national body charged with protecting and promoting human rights. The comments were made in a letter to the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights from Commission Chair Onora O’Neill and Chief Executive Mark Hammond. The letter is expected to highlight:

Chief Executive Mark Hammond said:

“Our view is that any changes to our current human rights framework should not water down the protections contained in the Human Rights Act.  In the year we celebrate the birth of our fundamental freedoms through the Magna Carta, it would be a bitter irony to weaken them.

“We are at a crossroads for human rights. One path risks undermining and diminishing our influence and status as a global leader in human rights and civil liberties. The other path will safeguard both our reputation for fairness and moral authority when confronting human rights abuses abroad.

“The Commission welcomes a debate on such important issues, but would not support a reversal of the leading global role Britain has long played in protecting and promoting human rights, nor a reduction in the protections of rights that we all currently enjoy under the Human Rights Act.”

Notes to Editors