Human Rights Act Reform consultation - briefing

Human Rights Act Reform

A Modern Bill Of Rights A consultation to reform the Human Rights Act 1998

In December 2022, People First joined over 200 organisations as a signatory to a letter to the Joint Committee on Human Rights telling them that the Human Rights Act Reform consultation was not accessible to people with learning difficulties, disabilities and other communication needs.

The consultation opened 14 December 2021, but despite numerous requests, an easy read version was not made available until late February – 24.02.22, leaving just 12 days for people to respond when people using the standard version have had 12 weeks. This was not fair!

The quality of the easy read consultation document was really concerning. It did not meet the recognised Accessible Information Standard and other easy read guidance, or the government’s own consultation guidance. It was still difficult to understand, it had no explanations or definitions and there were no pictures.

The Government made a new Easy Read version (and audio version) of the consultation. People and groups who need to use these could then ask the Government for more time to send in their views. The later deadline was the 19 April 2022.

On 23rd February we held an information session for self-advocates with Sophie O’Connell and Rosie Harding and then submitted a response to the consultation.

Read our Easy Read briefing Human Rights Act Reform consultation

British Institute of Human Rights - the Rights Removal Bill

The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) has been keeping us informed about the Government's plans for the Human Rights Act. 

'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.'

BIHR has an Easy Read Hub with guides to the Human Rights Act and resources to help you contact your MP and take action to protect our human rights.

Click here to visit the Easy Read Hub