Amnesty International UK Submission - Human Rights Act Reform: A Modern Bill of Rights

On 14th December 2021, the Secretary of State for Justice launched a 12-week consultation on proposed plans to effectively replace the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) with a ‘Bill of Rights’.

Amnesty International UK (AIUK) is deeply concerned about the proposals outlined in the consultation. They seek to upend the UK’s existing model of rights, and in doing so: 

• Dramatically weaken people’s ability to access their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and protect themselves from violations by the State.
• Set up conflict with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) including through defining rights differently to the ECtHR, likely leading to an increased number of UK cases heard in Strasbourg and even risking non-compliance with the ECHR.  
• Be at significant odds with the human rights protections enjoyed within the devolved nations and risk breaching the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.   

Read and download Amnesty’s full response to the consultation here.