The government began consultation on the impact of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Union's broader framework of fundamental rights. The consultation formed part of the government's overall Balance of Competences Review and asked whether the Charter and broader framework had been advantageous or disadvantageous to individuals, business, the public sector or any other groups in the United Kingdom. The consultation would close on 13 January 2014.
Source: Call for Evidence on the Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union: Fundamental rights, Ministry of Justice
Links: Consultation document | Overview | MOJ press release
Date: 2013-Oct
An article examined why legal judgments concerning equality/human rights and religion/belief had frequently provoked controversy. Debate about religion or belief and its place in society had been unduly dominated by particular – and sometimes partial – understandings of legal judgments. In the long term an approach based on human rights principles was likely to be more satisfactory than one based principally on equality.
Source: Alice Donald, 'Advancing debate about religion or belief, equality and human rights: grounds for optimism?', Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, Volume 2 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Apr
A new book examined the lasting constitutional impact of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Act marked a 'sea change' in the relationships between the individual and the state, and between the courts and the political branches of government. This was despite widespread political and popular scepticism about the nature of rights adjudication and the relationship between human rights laws and (for example) measures designed to combat terrorism and crime.
Source: Roger Masterman and Ian Leigh (eds), The United Kingdom's Statutory Bill of Rights: Constitutional and comparative perspectives, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Apr
A new book provided a critical overview of the development of human rights law by the United Kingdom Supreme Court.
Source: Brice Dickson, Human Rights and the United Kingdom Supreme Court, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Apr
A new book examined debates over human rights in the United Kingdom and Germany. It addressed human rights questions that arose in both jurisdictions in a similar way – such as the tension between liberty and security; and considered the impact of human rights on different areas of domestic law – in particular administrative law, criminal law, labour law, and private law generally.
Source: Katja Ziegler and Peter Huber, Current Problems in the Protection of Human Rights: Perspectives from Germany and the UK, Hart Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Feb