FOR YOUR RIGHTS THE CASE FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT Amnesty International Eastern Region Annual Conference Norwich Saturday 27 th March 2015 ID: 292140
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“FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS – THE CASE FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT” Amnesty International, Eastern Region Annual Conference Norwich Saturday 27th March 2015 David Mead Professor of UK Human Rights Lawd.mead@uea.ac.uk @seethingmeadSlide2
How does the HRA work?changes how judges interpret statutesimposes greater duties on “public authorities” – e.g. councils – when exercising discretionary powers What does it not do?ECHR is not “higher law” & neither is Strasbourg CourtJudges not bound to follow ECHRECHR not directly enforceable in same way as EU Law is – not “incorporated”Slide3
What’s all the fuss?Who’s to blame?Is the case against proven?Why support the HRA? Slide4Slide5
So what’s all the fuss?Strasbourg mission creepUndermines domestic judgesUndermines parliamentary sovereigntyHRA goes far beyond UK’s obligations under the ECHRRights without responsibilitiesEncompasses even trivial claimsExtra-territorial effect hinders army in theatre Unelected judges Villain’s charter Security concernsSlide6
Who’s to blame?Labour party politiciansStrasbourg judgesDomestic judgesThe human rights “industry”Might we add to the mix ...Tabloid newspapersSlide7
Is the case against proven?Flawed premiseQualified rights in Arts 8-11 contain responsibilitiesECHR judges are electedMistakes of lawStrasbourg law does not bind UK Supreme CourtStrasbourg has never ruled against life sentencesWhat about devolved nations?Misconceptualising problemEuropean Court cannot become “advisory”Human rights are necessarily undemocraticSlide8
Misunderstandings and mythsPrisoner votingVillains’ charterNational security concernsMisrepresenting the targetIs HRA or ECHR the problem? The role of Art 46Increasingly greater parity b/w UK & StrasbourgEU Charter of Rights Matters of judgementMission creep or developmental & foreseen?What does “serious” mean?Interpretation IS a problem but...Slide9
Apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education...In principle, the HRA ...Guarantees everyday protection Constrains governmental actionAvoids rule by the majorityProvides a touchstoneIn terms of realpolitik ...Misplaced foreigner-criminal-terrorist narrativeThe Groucho Marx problemSlide10
How has the HRA helped?Michael v C/Constable of S. Wales [2015] UKSC 2DSD v Metropolitan Police [2014] EWHC 436Dora & Simon (BIHR case study)Balbir (BIHR case study)Warren v Care Fertility Ltd [2014] EWHC 602 P v Cheshire West Council [2014] UKSC 19Janah v Libyan Embassy [2015] EWCA Civ 15R (HC) v Home Secretary [2013] EWHC 982Mid-Staffs Hospital Inquiry and compensationEffective investigations into deathsSlide11Slide12Slide13
Some further materialThe Conservative policy document can be found here http://www.theguardian.com/politics/interactive/2014/oct/03/conservatives-human-rights-act-full-documentChris Grayling’s piece in ConservativeHome is here http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2014/10/chris-grayling-mp-our-plan-to-protect-human-rights-while-making-the-european-court-advisory-only.htmlThe most recent pro-reform/repeal contribution to the debate, itself heavily criticised, is this Civitas paper last week http://www.civitas.org.uk/press/PRtheproblemwithhumanrightslaw.htmlDominic Grieve’s views are here http://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/constitution-unit-news/031214a and herehttp://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/human-rights-act-why-the-conservatives-are-wrongTwo readable academic blog critiques would behttp://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2014/10/07/alison-young-hra-howlers-the-conservative-party-and-reform-of-the-human-rights-act-1998/http://publiclawforeveryone.com/2014/10/03/my-analysis-of-the-conservative-partys-proposals-for-a-british-bill-of-rights/Criticisms by former government lawyer Carl Gardner are here http://www.headoflegal.com/2014/10/03/protecting-human-rights-in-the-uk-the-tory-human-rights-plan/