News

How Is The UK Performing On Human Rights At Home and Abroad? This Week’s News And Quotes

By Naomi Webber, Writer 25 Sep 2016
Institutions

A new report raises concerns over the ‘negative direction of travel’ for human rights protections in the UK and there is debate about whether human rights should apply when the UK acts through its armed forces abroad.

Human rights in the news

  • A report coordinated by the British Institute of Human Rights and funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) raises concerns about the “negative direction of travel for our domestic human rights protections.” The report has been submitted to the United Nations as part of the UK’s Universal Periodic Review [EHRC] [Read the report here]
  • MP and former army officer Tom Tugendhat argues that applying human rights laws to soldiers acting abroad puts them under unfair pressure to justify their actions and leaves Britain less able to defend itself, while Director of Liberty Martha Spurrier writes that human rights laws enable wrongdoers to be held to account and protect British soldiers [Telegraph] [Guardian]
  • The UK High Court calls for change in bereavement law to benefit cohabitees [UK Human Rights Blog]
  • The Intelligence Service Commissioner has published a report on the Government’s responsibilities in relation to counter-terrorism units abroad [Summary] [Full report]

New on RightsInfo

  • A brief history of the European Court of Human Rights [RightsInfo]
  • Fears for human rights as asylum appeal fees jump by 500% [RightsInfo]
  • Judge condemns British troops over Iraq boy death in investigation prompted by human rights laws [RightsInfo]
  • Supreme Court President says human rights strengthen our common law [RightsInfo]

Highlights From Twitter

Human Rights Quotes Of The Week

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Anufrejeva

Churchill on Europe

Bob Marley

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About The Author

Naomi Webber Writer

Naomi completed her law degree at Oxford and LLM at UCL. Since then, she has worked as a research assistant and undergraduate teaching fellow. She will commence pupillage in 2018.

Naomi completed her law degree at Oxford and LLM at UCL. Since then, she has worked as a research assistant and undergraduate teaching fellow. She will commence pupillage in 2018.