Weekly Human Rights News: 07-07-23

Senior Human Rights Officer Katrin and Lived Experience Expert Hanna co-delivered our human rights workshop to NHS staff in North England. The workshop was designed for Practice Leads to support them in embedding a human rights culture across services and covered key rights that can come up in healthcare settings, such as the Article 3 right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment.

July’s eNews went out to our mailing list with updates on a few of the reasons to celebrate human rights across the UK this month. We shared the news that the Rights Removal Bill has been shelved, the latest judgment finding the Rwanda policy is unlawful, our CEO’s speech at All Wales People First’s Advocacy Festival and new resources on LGBT+ rights and the Human Rights Act released during Pride month.

The Law Society of Northern Ireland said the Legacy Bill breaches the right to life

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill proposed by the UK Government would establish an Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery that would be responsible for investigations into Troubles-related deaths and serious injuries. The Bill would allow people to request to exchange information for immunity from prosecution. It would also prevent future inquests and civil actions related to the Troubles.  

On Friday 7^th July, the Law Society of Northern Ireland said it “opposes the denial of access to justice for victims and survivors and considers that this is incompatible with Article 2 ECHR (right to life).”

Read the statement

The Refugee Ban Bill will be considered by MPs again on Tuesday 11^th June

The Refugee Ban Bill will have its last day of Third Reading in the House of Lords on Monday 10^th July and the changes made by the Lords will be considered by MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday 11^th July. The Bill will enter the “ping pong” stage where the House of Lords and House of Commons have to try and agree its exact wording. The House of Lords made many changes to the original version of the Bill, including changing getting rid of the clause that would have disapplied the Human Rights Act and made it harder for people to access their rights.