Human Rights Act

16 basic human rights have been incorporated into UK law.

The Human Rights Act 1998 gives legal effect in the UK to certain fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ). There are 16 basic rights taken from the European Convention on Human Rights. These rights not only affect matters of life and death like freedom from torture and killing but also affect your rights in everyday life: what you can say and do, your beliefs, your right to a fair trial and many other similar basic entitlements. The rights include:

• right to life
• prohibition of torture
• prohibition of slavery and forced labour
• right to liberty and security
• right to a fair trial
• no punishment without law
• right to respect for private and family life
• freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• freedom of expression
• freedom of assembly and association
• right to marry
• prohibition of discrimination
• protection of property
• right to education
• right to free elections
• abolition of the death penalty

 

If you are in difficult situation in which you believe that your human rights are being violated, it is always advisable to see if the problem can be resolved without going to court.

However, where this is not possible, under the Human Rights Act, as a victim of an alleged violation, it is for you to bring a case before the appropriate court or tribunal in the UK. The court or tribunal will then consider whether or not your human rights have been violated.

Before you decide to take any legal action is important that you seek legal advice. The Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you and the Community Legal Service can put you in touch with advice providers in your area. There are also a number of Law Centres around the UK, which can offer you advice and help on a range of issues.

To order a free guide to the Human Rights Act published by the Department for Constitutional Affairs, please call 020 7210 1437. The guide to the Act is available in English and Welsh.

An introduction to the Act is available in Braille or audio cassette, and in the following languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese and Welsh. 

For more information of the Human Rights Act visit the Human Rights Website - http://www.humanrights.gov.uk/ (external link)