Does the UK really protect and promote Human Rights well?

Recap: What is the difference between civil Rights and civil Liberties?

1940s: UN stated in Universal Declaration of human Rights THE CHARTER that Nations needed to promote Human Rights for their citizens. This Declaration is not binding but has moral standing. In 1950 The European Convention was available to sign. It took on board what the UN charter said. This Convention had nothing to do with the EU. It promised citizens of whatever country signed it that there would be redress from the European Court of Human Rights if their government went against the convention. E.g. Right to marry, fair trial, free speech.

The UK has signed up to this in 1951. In 1966 individuals not just states could bring cases before the European Court of Human Rights. The UK were involved in most of the Court’s hearings.

There have been more impressive legislation apart from the Convention that has conferred Rights. Refer to sheet.

Many laws in the UK contradicted the Human Rights in the Convention. Until 1990 any British citizen could have redress from the European Court of Human Rights. This took 5/6 years and many cases where dropped before they got to the court. Human Rights cases rarely get heard in the European Court of Justice as it is too expensive. Therefore Britain was technically just giving lip service to the development of Human Rights.

Tony Blair realised that this was unfair and that citizens should have redress in British courts and judges could declare a British law incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the law could then be changed quickly. This change was known under the Human Rights Act 1998. Most of the convention Rights are now in British Law directly and ruled on in British Courts.

Watch: Historical context of the Human Rights Act 1998.

“The UK is an avid protector of Human Rights.” Discuss (15)

Knowledge and Understanding Answers demonstrate a range of citizenship knowledge and an accurate understanding of relevant citizenship concepts and theories. A range of examples are used to relate knowledge and understanding to citizenship issues. Analysis and Evaluation The response contains good evidence of the skills of analysis and evaluation of issues, problems or events in relation to the citizenship concepts and topics studied. Communication A range of relevant evidence is selected and organised which forms the basis of the arguments being presented. Arguments are clear and logical and the response uses appropriate citizenship terminology. Where appropriate the response recognises and draws upon the candidate’s own experiences in relation to citizenship participation. The response is legible with few, if any, errors of spelling punctuation