4. The Human Rights Act 1998 (1): rights and duties

2021 ◽  
pp. 66-113
Author(s):  
Howard Davis

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter traces the origins of the Human Rights Act, which came about due to a growing sense that UK law was failing to secure and keep pace with emerging international standards of human rights protection. It goes on thoroughly to explain, analyse, and illustrate the main terms of the Act. In particular the duty to interpret statutes for compatibility, if possible, with Convention rights; and the duty on ‘public authorities’ to act in ways which do not violate Convention rights. It considers the new constitutional settlement that the Act brings about and it discusses some of the controversies about its application that have arisen. The final section deals with possible reform.

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-129
Author(s):  
Howard Davis

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter continues the analysis of the Human Rights Act. It discusses how cases can be brought under the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) and what remedies are available from the courts if a violation of a Convention right is found. The aim here is to delve deeper into the issue of how the rights of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are given further effect in the law of the UK by the HRA. The main issues discussed in the chapter include the importance of remedies and Article 13 ECHR—the right to a remedy, procedural issues for seeking remedies under the HRA, and remedies available under the HRA.


Author(s):  
Simon Evans ◽  
Julia Watson

This chapter examines the influence of the new Commonwealth model of human rights protection (exemplified by the UK Human Rights Act 1998) on the form of the two Australian statutory Bills of Rights, and then considers the impact of Australia's distinctive legal culture and constitutional structure on the operation of these instruments. In particular, it examines the impact of culture and structure in the decision of the High Court of Australia in R. v Momcilovic [2011] HCA 34; (2011) 280 A.L.R. As a result of that case, key features of the Australian Bills of Rights now diverge from the dominant UK approach, a divergence so striking that it may no longer be possible to identify the Australian Bills of Rights as exemplars of the new Commonwealth model.


Public Law ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 761-816
Author(s):  
Mark Elliott ◽  
Robert Thomas

This chapter examines human rights protection in the UK. It examines the reasons why the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) was enacted, the effects of the HRA, the principal mechanisms through which the HRA affords protection to human rights in UK law; the scope of the HRA; and the debate concerning the potential repeal, reform, or replacement of the HRA. The chapter also introduces the notion of human rights, including the practical and philosophical cases for their legal protection, and the European Convention on Human Rights, to which the HRA gives effect in UK law.


Public Law ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Elliott ◽  
Robert Thomas

This chapter examines human rights protection in the UK. It examines the reasons why the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) was enacted, the effects of the HRA, the principal mechanisms through which the HRA affords protection to human rights in UK law, the scope of the HRA, and the debate concerning the potential repeal, reform, or replacement of the HRA. The chapter also introduces the notion of human rights, including the practical and philosophical cases for their legal protection, and the European Convention on Human Rights, to which the HRA gives effect in UK law.


Legal Studies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-378
Author(s):  
Benedict Douglas

AbstractAre we defined by the choices we make or the duties we owe? This paper argues that there is a conflict between the fundamental conception of the individual as possessing the capacity to choose how to live, which has been held to be the foundation of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the understanding of the individual as a bearer of duties which has long underpinned the UK Constitution. Through case law analysis, it is shown that the tension between these two understandings of the individual underlies the troubled acceptance of the Human Rights Act 1998, and influences the UK judiciary's substantive interpretations of the Convention rights. It is ultimately argued that for the Convention rights to be fully accepted in the UK, the evolution from a duty to a choice-based understanding of the individual, which was artificially accelerated by the Human Rights Act, must be more widely accepted by society and the courts.


2018 ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Pietro Sferrazza Taibi

ResumenLa desaparición forzada de los estudiantes normalistas ocurrida en septiembre de 2014 en las cercanías de la localidad mexicana de Ayotzinapa es una tragedia que, además de captar la atención de la prensa internacional, ha activado el funcionamiento de algunos mecanismos del sistema interamericano de protección de los derechos humanos. Este trabajo pretende analizar de qué manera la creación del Grupo Interdisciplinario de Expertos Independientes (GIEI) puede incidir en la determinación de la responsabilidad internacional del Estado Mexicano por el incumplimiento de los estándares internacionales interamericanos sobre prevención, investigación y sanción de la desaparición forzada. En aquel sentido, este trabajo se dividirá en tres secciones. En la primera de ellas se describirán brevemente los hechos, a fin de demarcar el contexto fáctico a partir del cual se reflexionará. La segunda sección hará referencia a la creación del GIEI en el marco de las medidas cautelares adoptadas por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (Comisión IDH) en este caso. En la tercera y última sección, se valorará si las obligaciones generales de respeto y garantía han sido vulneradas en este caso, centrando el foco de atención en los deberes específcos de prevención e investigación.Palabras clave: Ayotzinapa; Grupo Interdisciplinario de Expertos Independientes; Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos; desaparición forzada.ResumoO desaparecimento forçado de estudantes normalistas acontecida em setembro de 2014 perto da cidade mexicana de Ayotzinapa é uma tragédia que, além de capturar a atenção da imprensa internacional, permitiu o funcionamento de determinados mecanismos do sistema interamericano de proteção dos direitos humanos. Este trabalho pretende analisar de que forma a criação do Grupo Interdisciplinar de Peritos Independentes (GIEI) podem afetar na determinação da responsabilidade internacional do Estado Mexicano pelo incumprimento dos padrões internacionais interamericanos sobre a prevenção, investigação e punição de desaparecimento forçado. Nesse sentido, este trabalho será dividido em três seções. No primeiro deles, os fatos serão brevemente descritos, a fm de demarcar o contexto factual a partir do qual será refletido. A segunda seção referirá a criação do GIEI no marco das medidas cautelaresadotadas pela Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (Comissão IDH) no presente caso. Na terceira e última seção, vai ser valorado se as obrigações gerais de respeito e garantia foram vulneradas neste caso, centrando o foco de atenção nos deveres específcos de prevenção e investigação.Palavras-chave: Ayotzinapa; Grupo Interdisciplinar de Peritos Independentes; Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos; desaparecimento forçado.AbstractThe forced disappearance of the students of the rural teachers’ college in September of 2014 in the surroundings of the Mexican town of Ayotzinapa is a tragedy that, besides capturing the attention of the international press, has activated the functioning of some mechanisms of the Inter-American Human Rights Protection System. This work aims to analyze in which ways the creation of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) can underscore the determination of the international responsibility of the Mexican State for the non-compliance of the Inter-American international standards on prevention, investigation and punishment of the enforced disappearance. In that sense, this paper will be divided in three sections. The frst one will briefly describe the facts, to demarcate the factual circumstances from which it will be reflected. The second section will address the creation of the GIEI within the framework of the precautionary measures adopted by the Inter-American Commissionof Human Rights (IACHR) in this matter. The third and last section will evaluate whether the general obligations to respect and ensure human rights have been violated in this case, focusing on the specifc duties of prevention and investigation.Keywords: Ayotzinapa, Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts, Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, forced disappearance.


2021 ◽  
pp. 433-447
Author(s):  
Howard Davis

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. It discusses European Convention law and relates it to domestic law under the HRA. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter considers the application of Convention rights in the field of prisoners’ rights; the impact of Convention rights on prisoners in the UK is considered. Prisoners remain within the protection of the European Convention on Human Rights, though the application of these rights will take their position into account. Prisoners’ rights include not only rights to the non-arbitrary loss of liberty (Article 5) and rights to fair procedures (Articles 5 and 6), but also not to be disproportionately denied the rights and freedoms in Articles 8–11. Imprisonment deprives individuals of their liberty and, therefore, is a public function for which the state is responsible under the Convention. The controversy over prisoners’ right to vote is discussed in Chapter 25.


Author(s):  
John Stanton ◽  
Craig Prescott

One of the most fundamental aspects of any constitution are the provisions and measures that protect the rights and freedoms of individuals. In the UK, rights protection is markedly different to that in America, in chief because there is no entrenched Bill of Rights. Rights protection is dominated by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), incorporated by the Human Rights Act 1998, which sets out a number of positive rights that are actionable in the UK courts This chapter discusses the ways in which these rights are protected in the UK Constitution. It discusses the courts' historic civil liberties approach and common law protection of rights, before then examining the development, incorporation, and application of the ECHR. The chapter also explores the way in which the various sections of the Human Rights Act 1998 work to ensure appropriate enforcement and protection of rights in UK law.


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