Amnesty issues key human rights calls on asylum, Northern Ireland, arms to Israel, homelessness, and protests

Sixty-three per cent of UK population think Government needs to commit to improving and protecting human rights - new Savanta poll

‘Human rights in the UK were decimated by the previous Government’ - Sacha Deshmukh

One hundred days on from the general election (Saturday 12 October), the Government needs to significantly speed up the restoration of vital human rights that were slashed by the previous Government, said Amnesty International today.  

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:  

 “Human rights in the UK were decimated by the previous Government and it obviously needs far more than 100 days of a new Government to set that right.

“Since moving into Number 10, it’s been refreshing to hear the Prime Minster speaking proudly about human rights and committing to staying in the ECHR, as well as taking swift steps to scrap the abhorrent Rwanda scheme.

“But this does not go far enough. We now need clear action demonstrating that it will pick up the pace to restore people’s rights. 

“This includes establishing a fair and efficient asylum system for everyone seeking safety however they come to the UK, fully repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles Act, a commitment to scrap a host of draconian anti-protest laws, and urgent action on homelessness informed by those directly affected.

 “We also need a full suspension of all UK export licences to Israel, including the F-35 fighter jet programme.”

 Amnesty’s key calls on Government

• The new Government has turned the page on human rights and is off to a good start in such respects as its commitment to remain in the European Convention on Human Rights, but there is much that needs to be repaired. Under the last Government, universal human rights were essentially suspended, with the Human Rights Act disapplied to “unpopular” groups such as people seeking asylum and prisoners. These need to be restored as a matter of urgency.
• The partial suspension of UK arms transfers to Israel is welcome. However, the incomplete ban is a recognition that weaponry is being used by Israeli forces to commit atrocities which stops short of a very necessary full suspension. This leaves the UK at risk of being complicit in significant breaches of international humanitarian law and war crimes.
•  What was billed as a complete repeal of the Northern Ireland Troubles Act appears to be increasingly qualified. The act must be fully repealed and replaced with a process that will allow for victims’ cases to be heard properly. Concerningly, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has indicated he will seek to retain the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery - propping up the legacy body established by the last Government.
•  A complete overhaul of the asylum system is urgently needed to make it just and effective, including a commitment to decide all asylum claims fairly and efficiently, regardless of how people reach the UK.
•  Authoritarian measures within recent anti-protest laws should be scrapped. It has been extremely worrying to see long prison sentences handed down for peaceful protests.

 Polling shows majority want action on human rights 

 New polling by Savanta* this month commissioned by Amnesty found that 63% of the UK population thinks the Government needs to commit to improving and protecting human rights.

*Savanta interviewed 2,062 UK adults aged 16+ online from 23 August to 2 October 2024. Data were weighted to be representative of all UK adults by age, sex, region, ethnicity and socio-economic level. Savanta is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.