HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

The Human Rights Act came into force on 2 October 2000.
The Human Rights Act 1998
Although the Human Rights Act is different to the other laws listed here, it is useful to know the basics as it is being used more frequently. The Human Rights Act came into force on 2 October 2000. It has sixteen basic rights, which affect all aspects of human rights, from freedom from torture and killing to individual rights in everyday life. It also includes the right not to be treated differently because of your race, religion, sex, political views or any other status, unless it can be objectively justified. It incorporates into UK law, rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

The new law does three simple things:
· It makes it unlawful for a public authority, like a government department, local authority or the police, to breach the Convention rights, unless, because of an Act of parliament, it has no choice.
· It says that all UK legislation should be given a meaning that fits with the Convention rights, if that’s possible. If a Court says it’s not possible, it will be up to parliament to decide what to do.
· It means that cases can be dealt with in a UK Court or tribunal. Until this law, anyone who felt that their rights have been breached had to go to the European court of Human Rights in Strasburg.





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