164 organisations send joint letter to Theresa May to urge her to keep the Human Rights Act
A letter asking the Prime Minister to abandon plans to scrap the Human Rights Act has been signed by 164 organisations, including those working with new mothers, children, patients, carers, people with learning disabilities and mental ill-health, women experiencing violence, migrants and older people, and groups campaigning for LGBT rights, fair trials, access to justice, decent housing and against racial discrimination.
The British Institute for Human Rights (BIHR) published the letter on 10 December, Human Rights Day, to show the breadth of support for the Human Rights Act across the UK. Amnesty International UK, Liberty, the Human Rights Consortium Scotland and Human Rights Watch as well as trade unions and law firms signed the letter.
Stephen Bowen, Director of BIHR, said: “I hope the Prime Minister will listen to so many respected organisations, all with first-hand knowledge of how the Human Rights Act helps so many people in their everyday lives and why it isn’t something to scrap but something to cherish. These are uncertain times and Theresa May should not be adding to the legal confusion, risking further division, or signalling that the UK wants to walk away from international standards. Instead, she can give us all something to cheer by saving the Human Rights Act.”