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COMMON VALUES: THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
Read the Conservative case
for the Human Rights ActCommon Values
We believe in fundamental rights and freedoms - shared values that protect every member of the human family and the society we seek to build together.
Rights and freedoms make sense. Through our Common Values campaign we aim to broaden understanding and respect for human rights values. We explain how the Human Rights Act protects you and counter some of the damaging myths that exist around the Act.
The Human Rights Act
The Human Rights Act was passed by Parliament in 1998 and brings the rights from the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms into UK law. It means that you can defend your rights in the UK courts and that public organisations (including the Government, the Police and local councils) must treat everyone equally, with fairness, dignity and respect.
Find out more: Inside the Human Rights Act
What You Can Do
Fundamental rights and freedoms are common to us all. They are our common values. Help us defend them by supporting the campaign today.
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Donate - Liberty is a small organisation, so any gift goes a long way and helps us work to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms.Press Releases
Permission granted in Jon Gaunt’s free speech challenge to Ofcom
- Today the High Court granted permission for a judicial review of Ofcom’s decision to uphold complaints against the radio talk show host Jon Gaunt.
- 27.01.2010
Liberty support "shock jock" Jon Gaunt's free speech challenge to Ofcom
- Today the High Court will hear a judicial review application brought by sacked “shock jock” Jon Gaunt against Ofcom. Gaunt is bringing the challenge after Ofcom upheld complaints against him under the broadcasting code.
- 27.01.2010
The truth about Britain's values
- A poll released today by Liberty shows the British public’s continued support for human rights. 96% believe it is important that there is a law that protects rights and freedoms in Britain.
- 10.12.2009
Liberty comment on BNP appearance on Question Time
- Human rights group Liberty responded to the hatred exposed by British National Party leader Nick Griffin on BBC1's Question Time last night.
- 23.10.2009
New Tory book in support of the Human Rights Act
- Conservative parliamentary candidate Jesse Norman and political columnist Peter Oborne today launch ‘Churchill’s Legacy: The Conservative case for the Human Rights Act’.
- 05.10.2009
Control orders, torture techniques and the rise of the BNP - Does Britain still care about human rights?
- In defiance of recent events, a poll released today by Liberty shows overwhelming support for human rights laws.
- 15.06.2009
Inside the Human Rights Act |
Information about what the Human Rights Act is, how it works and how it protects you. |
Find out more |
Common Values Campaign Updates |
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Materials and Resources
- Read the Conservative case for the Human Rights Act as a PDF, October 2009.
- If you would like a hard copy of any of our materials, please contact us with your name and address.
- A little document with a lot of information in plain English about your human rights (PDF)
- An introduction to the campaign and the human rights values we are standing up for (PDF)
- A leaflet exploding some common myths and misconceptions about the Act (PDF)
Recent Policy Papers
- Briefing from Liberty on human rights issues in the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, July 2008.
- Liberty’s response to a Home Office consultation on reforming the immigration system in the context of a suggested British Bill of Rights. May 2008, PDF
- Liberty’s evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the
Rights and Responsibilities Green Paper published by the Ministry of Justice, July 2009 (PDF) - Liberty’s response to the Ministry of Justice’s Second Stage Consultation on the Voting Rights of Convicted Prisoners Detained in the UK, Sept 2009 (PDF)
More Information
- An article considering the Bill of Rights debate, February 2009 (PDF)
- Read Lord Bingham's speech about human rights at Liberty's Common Values conference, June 2009 (PDF)
- In this College of Law podcast, Shami Chakrabarti gives her thoughts on why the Human Rights Act is so important, December 2009
- Article putting David Cameron's pledge to repeal the Human Rights Act under the spotlight, January 2010
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