A report said that many public services staff, particularly those on the frontline, do not understand what the Human Rights Act is, the rights it contains, and their responsibilities to uphold it.
Source: Jenny Watson, Something for Everyone: The impact of the Human Rights Act and the need for a Human Rights Commission, British Institute of Human Rights (020 7401 2712)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Community Care article
Date: 2002-Dec
The new chair of the Bar Council (representing barristers) challenged the government over the 'stripping away' of people's rights in the Criminal Justice Bill, and questioned the Home Secretary's claim that it is his democratic imperative to curb basic freedoms.
Source: Speech by Matthias Kelly QC, 17.12.02, Bar Council (020 7242 0082)
Links: Text of speech | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
Two leading charities urged the withdrawal of proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill allowing for compulsory drug testing and treatment of children, arguing that they would infringe a child's right to liberty and protection from inhuman and degrading treatment.
Source: Press release 17.12.02, Children s Society (020 7841 4415) and DrugScope
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The Lord Chancellor said that predictions that the judiciary would be politicised by the Human Rights Act have been proved wrong, and that judges have succeeded in striking a balance between 'intense judicial scrutiny and reasonable deference to elected decision-makers'.
Source: Lord Irvine (Lord Chancellor), The Human Rights Act Two Years On: An Analysis, Inaugural Irvine Human Rights Lecture, Lord Chancellor's Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Text of lecture | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A joint report by MPs and peers said that amendments by the House of Lords to the Adoption and Children Bill probably contravene the rights of both unmarried and gay couples under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Source: Adoption and Children Bill: As Amended by the House of Lords on Report, Twenty-fourth Report (Session 2001-02), HL 177 and HC 979, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Oct
A report said the government should establish a human rights framework for criminal justice policy, and that it is wrong to equate this with being soft on crime . It said that victims and witnesses need more attention from the system, but that the presumption of innocence on the part of the accused should not be eroded.
Source: Justice for All: JUSTICE response to the White Paper, JUSTICE (020 7329 5100)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The government welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling that detention powers under the Anti-Terrorism Act are not discriminatory, and do comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Source: Press release 25.10.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: No link
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 8.1
Date: 2002-Oct
A disabled woman and her husband were awarded 10,000 damages under the Human Rights Act in a landmark case before the High Court, after being forced to live in a 'wholly unsuitable' home.
Source: Community Care, 29.10.02
Links: Community Care article | BBC news report
Date: 2002-Oct
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales defended the role of the judiciary in upholding the basic human rights of minority groups, even if that results in a temporary loss of the judiciary's own popularity.
Source: Lord Woolf, Human Rights: Have the Public Benefited?, Thank-Offering to Britain Fund Lecture, British Academy (020 7969 5200)
Links: Lecture (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report provided an account of the counter-terrorist powers introduced by the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, and assessed the impact of these powers on human rights and civil liberties.
Source: Irene Biglino, Anti-Terrorism Legislation in the United Kingdom, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Liberty publications page
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 8.1
Date: 2002-Oct
A think-tank pamphlet argued that there are dangers to liberty in a system where human rights are prescribed in law and interpreted by judges.
Source: Oliver Letwin, John Marenbon and Martin Howe, Conservative Debates: Liberty under the Law, Politeia (020 7240 5070)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A joint report by MPs and peers recommended that government amendments to its own Bill on immigration and asylum should be altered to protect rights to freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment, to liberty, to respect for private and family life, to adequate housing, food and clothing, and to appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance for children seeking asylum.
Source: Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill: Further Report, Twenty-third Report 2001-02, HL 176 and HC 1255, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Oct
Civil rights campaigners set out a series of objections to draft mental health legislation regarding the detention of certain people suffering from a severe personality disorder.
Source: Liberty s Response to the Department of Health Consultation on the Draft Mental Health Bill, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Response (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
Campaigners accused the government of breaching the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, over conditions for young people aged 15 to 17 held in prison.
Source: Children in Prison, Barred Rights: An Independent Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 6.4
Date: 2002-Sep
Campaigners said that serious human rights violations occurred as a consequence of the United Kingdom authorities' response to the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States of America. The report denounced the treatment and conditions of detention of those detained in the aftermath of the attacks.
Source: Rights Denied: The UK's Response to 11 September 2001, EUR 45/016/2002, Amnesty International (020 7814 6200)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
The chief inspector of prisons reportedly said that prison conditions are 'close to breaching the Human Rights Act' because of overcrowding.
Source: Interview with Anne Owers in the New Statesman magazine, reported in The Independent, 8.8.02
Links: Independent article | New Statesman
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 6.3
Date: 2002-Aug
A joint report from a committee of MPs and peers criticised powers given to Ministers under the draft Communications Bill, which would establish a new single regulator for the electronic communications sector (the Office of Communications - OFCOM). The government was also reportedly warned by the Information Commissioner that proposed powers for the police and intelligence agencies to seize telephone and internet records may be unlawful.
Source: Draft Communications Bill, Report (Session 2001-02), HC 876-I and HL 169-I, Joint Committee on Draft Communications Bill, TSO (0870 600 5522) | The Guardian, 31.7.02
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Jul
The government began consultation on an entitlement card scheme aimed at reducing identity fraud.
Source: Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud: A Consultation Paper, Cm 5557, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Consultation Paper (pdf) | Hansard
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 8.2)
Date: 2002-Jul
A pamphlet assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, and concluded that the rights serve little practical purpose, as they are largely unenforceable.
Source: Keith Ewing, The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: Waste of Time or Wasted Opportunity?, Institute of Employment Rights (020 7498 6919)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Jul
Campaigners criticised proposals in the criminal justice White Paper to limit jury trials, remove the double jeopardy rule, and allow evidence on previous convictions.
Source: Press release 17.7.02, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A paper described how four safeguards of liberty - trial by jury, the double jeopardy rule, the presumption of innocence, and 'habeas corpus' - are being eroded.
Source: Peter Lilley, Taking Liberties, Adam Smith Institute (020 7222 4995)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
The Charity Commissioners ruled that the promotion of human rights is a charitable purpose.
Source: The Promotion of Human Rights, Charity Commission for England and Wales (0870 333 0123)
Links: Guidance | Charity Commission press release
Date: 2002-Jul
Campaigners produced a report summarising the human rights arguments against 'entitlement cards' or 'identity cards'.
Source: ID Cards: Arguments against, Charter88 (020 8880 6088) and Liberty
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The Human Genetics Commission announced an urgent consultation into genetic tests sold direct to the public.
Source: The Supply of Genetic Tests Direct to the Public, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (020 7972 1518)
Links: Consultation document | Summary
Date: 2002-Jul
A Parliamentary Committee on human rights expressed serious concern over the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill.
Source: Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, Seventeenth Report (Session 2001-02), HL 132 and HC 961, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 8.3)
Date: 2002-Jun
The government began consultation on a draft Mental Health Bill, under which people with untreatable personality disorders could be detained in secure hospitals. The proposals were attacked by civil liberties campaigners.
Source: Mental Health Bill: Consultation Document, Cm 5538-III, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Draft Mental Health Bill, Cm 5538-I, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 25.6.02, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Draft Bill (pdf) | Liberty press release
Date: 2002-Jun
An official commission proposed that it should be a criminal offence to test someone s DNA or access their genetic information without their knowledge or consent for non-medical purposes, except as allowed by law.
Source: Inside Information - Balancing Interests in the Use of Personal Genetic Data, Human Genetics Commission (020 7972 1518)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 2.7)
Date: 2002-Jun
The government decided to withdraw proposals to allow departments to gain access to the records of telephone and e-mail usage by individuals, following protests by civil liberties groups.
Source: The Guardian, 11.6.02 and 19.6.02
Links: Guardian report (11.6.02) | Guardian report (19.6.02)
Date: 2002-Jun
The government began consultation on an entitlement card scheme aimed at reducing identity fraud.
Source: Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud: A Consultation Paper, Cm 5557, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Consultation Paper (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 8.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
A survey of local authorities and National Health Service trusts found they had done too little to incorporate the Human Rights Act into their work.
Source: The Human Rights Act: A Bulletin for Public Bodies, District Audit/Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Link removed
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 4.3)
Date: 2002-May