Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute launches EHRC-commissioned Bill of Rights report
The Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute (HRSJ) at London Metropolitan University was recently commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to identify and explore best practice processes for creating a Bill of Rights for the UK.
On the 1 March, the HRSJ report Developing a Bill of Rights for the UK was launched to coincide with a debate hosted by the EHRC on the future of the Human Rights Act in Britain and proposals for a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
Distinguished panellists attending the launch included: Dominic Grieve MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice; David Howarth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Jack Straw MP, Secretary of State for Justice.
The project comes at a critical juncture: the three main UK political parties currently appear to agree on the desirability of a Bill of Rights but there is no consensus on the best process for creating such a bill which would be inclusive and promote ownership of it amongst all sectors of society. It is expected that the research findings will be of great practical benefit for the current and post-election government in deciding upon this process.
In the course of this research, HRSJ brought together key individuals concerned with the development of a UK Bill of Rights and facilitated debate between people with knowledge of deliberative methodologies, human rights and bills of rights processes that have taken place outside the UK, to analyse evidence drawn from related domestic and international experience.
The report will elaborate upon the EHRC’s principles underpinning the development of a Bill of Rights and draw up recommendations for how a future UK Government should proceed with the development of a Bill of Rights, regardless of which political party is in power.
HRSJ Director Philip Leach explained: ‘Our report establishes that any UK Bill of Rights must build on the existing human rights standards and mechanisms. There must be a meaningful process of prior consultation which includes the most marginalised in our society’.
The Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute (HRSJ) was created in 2003 to facilitate multidisciplinary research, policy analysis, training, teaching and consultancy. The Institute supports a focused network of academics, students and practitioners, seeking to substantiate links between human rights and social justice. It brings together both academics and practitioners from a range of disciplines including law, health policy, social policy, sociology, politics and philosophy.
The research was conducted by the Human Rights & Social Justice Research Institute at London Metropolitan University, headed by Professor Philip Leach and by Andrew Puddephatt and Alice Donald from Global Partners and Associates. The author of the research report is Alice Donald.
To read the full report, click here.
2 March 2010