The Rights Removal Bill & Human Rights Act Reform
Here you will find all of BIHR's work around the Rights Removal Bill and Human Rights Act reform with information about how you can get involved.
On 22nd June 2022, the Government published a new Bill that would get rid of our Human Rights Act. They're calling it the Bill of Rights - but it's exactly the opposite. This is a Rights Removal Bill and represents the latest step in plans to reduce their responsibilities to uphold the human rights protections people rely on every day across the UK.
It's more important now than ever to stand up for our human rights. We'll be releasing new resources explaining what's happening and what you can do. You'll find all our existing resources below and we'll be updating this page regularly.
Get the latest
The Rights Removal Bill is dead, long live the Human Rights Act
In this blog, we celebrate the great news that the UK Government is not proceeding with the Rights Removal Bill and look ahead to the work still to be done to protect human rights in the UK.
The Rights Removal Bill is dead, long live the Human Rights Act
In this blog, we celebrate the great news that the UK Government is not proceeding with the Rights Removal Bill and look ahead to the work still to be done to protect human rights in the UK.
Our CEO's statement on the Rights Removal Bill being stopped
Read our CEO's statement following the announcement from Justice Secretary Alex Chalk that the UK Government will not proceed with the Rights Removal Bill.
Our CEO's statement on the Rights Removal Bill being stopped
Read our CEO's statement following the announcement from Justice Secretary Alex Chalk that the UK Government will not proceed with the Rights Removal Bill.
One Year of the RITES Committee
Read about our parliamentary event to mark one year of our RITES Committee - a coalition of lived experience experts advocating for the Human Rights Act.
One Year of the RITES Committee
Read about our parliamentary event to mark one year of our RITES Committee - a coalition of lived experience experts advocating for the Human Rights Act.
The Living Instrument & Margin of Appreciation Principles
Find out why the European Convention on Human Rights is described as a "living instrument" and what the margin of appreciation means for individual countries.
The Living Instrument & Margin of Appreciation Principles
Find out why the European Convention on Human Rights is described as a "living instrument" and what the margin of appreciation means for individual countries.
All About the European Convention on Human Rights
What is the European Convention on Human Rights? What does it mean for the UK? Find out about the ECHR and how it protects all our human rights in our plain-language and Easy Read explainers.
All About the European Convention on Human Rights
What is the European Convention on Human Rights? What does it mean for the UK? Find out about the ECHR and how it protects all our human rights in our plain-language and Easy Read explainers.
Alex Chalk is the new Justice Secretary
Find out about Dominic Raab's replacement and what this could mean for the Rights Removal Bill and human rights protections in the UK.
Alex Chalk is the new Justice Secretary
Find out about Dominic Raab's replacement and what this could mean for the Rights Removal Bill and human rights protections in the UK.
Rolling Back on Rights: The Refugee Ban Bill & Rights Removal Bill
This blog looks at some of the ways these Bills attempt to limit government accountability and roll back on our legally protected rights.
Rolling Back on Rights: The Refugee Ban Bill & Rights Removal Bill
This blog looks at some of the ways these Bills attempt to limit government accountability and roll back on our legally protected rights.
Report Recap: “Legislative Scrutiny: Bill of Rights Bill”
Read our plain-language recap of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' legislative scrutiny report of the Rights Removal Bill.
Report Recap: “Legislative Scrutiny: Bill of Rights Bill”
Read our plain-language recap of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' legislative scrutiny report of the Rights Removal Bill.
Oral Justice Questions: 21-02-23
Read our recap of the questions put to the Justice Secretary on 21st February 2023 discussing the European Convention on Human Rights, the Good Friday Agreement and victims’ rights.
Oral Justice Questions: 21-02-23
Read our recap of the questions put to the Justice Secretary on 21st February 2023 discussing the European Convention on Human Rights, the Good Friday Agreement and victims’ rights.
Implications of the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland
Read our recap of Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's Oral Evidence Session on 11th January 2023, where they discussed implications of the Rights Removal Bill for Northern Ireland.
Implications of the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland
Read our recap of Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's Oral Evidence Session on 11th January 2023, where they discussed implications of the Rights Removal Bill for Northern Ireland.
Members of Parliament Question the Justice Secretary
Read our recap of Members of Parliament asking Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, questions on the Rights Removal Bill on 10 January 2023.
Members of Parliament Question the Justice Secretary
Read our recap of Members of Parliament asking Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, questions on the Rights Removal Bill on 10 January 2023.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights Questions the Justice Secretary
Read our recap of the Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab's, appearance before the Joint Committee on Human Rights to discuss the Bill of Rights Bill.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights Questions the Justice Secretary
Read our recap of the Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab's, appearance before the Joint Committee on Human Rights to discuss the Bill of Rights Bill.
Cost-of-Living Crisis
We put together guides for Parliamentarians and for the general public on how and why our Human Rights Act can be used to protect people during the cost-of-living crisis.
Cost-of-Living Crisis
We put together guides for Parliamentarians and for the general public on how and why our Human Rights Act can be used to protect people during the cost-of-living crisis.
Update on The Rights Removal Bill: Why There is No Room for Complacency
What the UK Government's next steps might be now the Rights Removal Bill has been shelved.
Update on The Rights Removal Bill: Why There is No Room for Complacency
What the UK Government's next steps might be now the Rights Removal Bill has been shelved.
Rights Removal Bill: How did we get here?
From the UK Government ignoring the panel it commissioned to dismissing public opinions it asked for, we look back at the road to the Rights Removal Bill.
Rights Removal Bill: How did we get here?
From the UK Government ignoring the panel it commissioned to dismissing public opinions it asked for, we look back at the road to the Rights Removal Bill.
Easy Read Guides
Explore our Easy Read guides to the Rights Removal Bill.
22 June 2022
Our CEO's Statement on the Rights Removal Bill
"Everyone in the UK, wants to be able to live with dignity and respect, where those who hold power follow the rules; this is what our law, the Human Rights Act, helps secure. Sadly, what we now face is a UK Government intent on ripping up the rulebook.
Rather than championing our human rights protections, this new anti-rights bill is a power grab from the Government. Unsupported by the evidence of people across the UK, and in direct opposition to the findings of the Independent Review it set up, which concluded there was no case for replacing our Human Rights Act.
The Human Rights Act has worked well, serving its purpose to provide legal protection for everyone's fundamental rights, here at home. In schools and hospitals, local councils and national departments, courts and care homes, people are benefitting from the protection of our human rights in everyday ways that do not grab headline, but which do make a difference.
Now more than ever, as we face a cost of living crisis, so many more of us will be driven into needing the safety net of human rights. Yet the Government is whipping it away in favour of a law that gifts rights dependent on whether people have the fear or favour of those in power. These are not the actions of a government that respects human rights, or indeed the value of law, order, and justice.”
“In a democracy that values rights and the rule of the law any self-respecting government seeking to change our human rights protections would only be doing so to improve them, and they would want the fullest possible parliamentary scrutiny of their plans. This government has said that it will neither allow pre-legislative scrutiny of its proposals, and nor, we can confirm through a BIHR FOI request, will it publish the twelve and half thousand responses to its consultation. These are not the actions of a transparent government that welcomes democratic debate and freedom of speech.
People and power, that's what our Human Rights Act is about, and it's what this Government's plans to reduce our protections are about - weakening our rights and reducing their responsibility to us. Every single day people rely on our Human Rights Act, because we know this world isn't perfect. Working with 1000s of people each year, including public officials, we know people won't be fooled by this power grab by the Government.
People won't be fooled by the popularist attempts to justify reducing our rights by references to those the Government think will be considered "undeserving". People won't be fooled by the Government's attempts to dress up a new law that lessens their accountability to us, as something positive by calling it a bill of rights. We all know rules matter, not just the rules the Government wants to play by, but the rules that make sure we can hold them to account for treating us with dignity and respect. People won't be fooled; we know that our Human Rights Act matters every day, to everyone, and that's why it must stay.”
Get informed
Rights Removal Bill: Briefings & Guides
We explain what the Rights Removal Bill means for our Human Rights Act and human rights protections in the UK in our detailed briefings and guides.
Rights Removal Bill: Briefings & Guides
We explain what the Rights Removal Bill means for our Human Rights Act and human rights protections in the UK in our detailed briefings and guides.
What the Rights Removal Bill Means For...
Find out what the Rights Removal Bill means for different communities and areas such as disability rights, ending violence against women and religion and belief.
What the Rights Removal Bill Means For...
Find out what the Rights Removal Bill means for different communities and areas such as disability rights, ending violence against women and religion and belief.
Rights Removal Bill: Need-to-Know Guides
Get our key concerns with the Rights Removal Bill with these two-page guides to some of the significant changes the Bill will make to human rights in the UK.
Rights Removal Bill: Need-to-Know Guides
Get our key concerns with the Rights Removal Bill with these two-page guides to some of the significant changes the Bill will make to human rights in the UK.
BIHR's work and its impact
The RITES Committee
Our RITES Committee (standing for real-life insights, tips, experiences and stories) is made up of experts by experience who have used our Human Rights Act to achieve change.
The RITES Committee
Our RITES Committee (standing for real-life insights, tips, experiences and stories) is made up of experts by experience who have used our Human Rights Act to achieve change.
The BIHR Vlog
Stay up-to-date on our latest work on the Rights Removal Bill with our vlog series featuring different members of our team involved in our actions.
The BIHR Vlog
Stay up-to-date on our latest work on the Rights Removal Bill with our vlog series featuring different members of our team involved in our actions.
House of Lords Debate
Read about our briefing to Parliamentarians that helped amplify the voices of people with lived experience in a House of Lords debate on the Human Rights Act.
House of Lords Debate
Read about our briefing to Parliamentarians that helped amplify the voices of people with lived experience in a House of Lords debate on the Human Rights Act.
Joint Letters
We joined with organisations across different sectors and nations of the UK to show solidarity in opposing the Rights Removal Bill.
Why Our Human Rights Act Matters
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There are lots of ways you can get involved.
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