The UN Human Rights Committee – which monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – reviewed the UK on the 2 July 2015.
Its independent experts had the chance to ask the UK delegation questions on a range of issues of concern, such as the possible repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), violence against women, ill-treatment of detainees and abuses against migrant domestic workers.
On the HRA, the UK Government was asked about its plans for repeal and the creation of a British Bill of Rights. It was of particular concern to the Committee how the proposed change will ensure that the rights under the ICCPR are still maintained and protected for all people throughout the UK.
In preparation for the review, NGOs and national human rights institutions were able to express to the Committee their own fears regarding repeal. The Equality and Human Rights Commission stated that the HRA was important for providing essential protections for all. In particular, there was concern that repealing HRA would pose a serious challenge to the international human rights framework. In addition, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International stated that the UK ran the risk of undermining both the protection of fundamental rights and the UK’s credibility on these issues.
In its concluding observations, the Committee recommended that the UK:
Ensure that any legislation passed in lieu of the Human Rights Act 1998, were such legislation to be passed, would be aimed at strengthening the status of international human rights, including the provisions of the Covenant, in the domestic legal order and provide effective protection of those rights across all jurisdictions.
In its opening statement, the UK Government’s delegation emphasised the long-standing tradition the UK had for the protection of human rights, and claimed the proposed Bill of Rights would seek to correct the continually expanding legal interpretation of these principles.
The Committee were also able to discuss other concerns regarding the UK’s fulfilment of rights under the ICCPR. The Committee asked the UK to comment on allegations about the ill-treatment of detainees in Baghdad. It was also suggested that the Government take measures to stop abuses of migrant domestic workers who are afforded very little protection in the UK. With regards to violence against women, the Committee learnt that improved case management by the police has contributed to a rise in rape convictions and a National Rape Action Plan has been launched to promote further progress.
The Committee’s recommendations are due to be published shortly and will be posted on this news story when available.
Click here to read the Committee's recommendations in full
Click here for a copy of the UK’s state report to the Human Rights Committee
Click here for a briefing on the UN's human rights bodies
Photo: Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson (right) meets with Joyce Anelay (centre), Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, and Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN. Copyright: UN Photo
