Rights in context

• The Human Rights Act 1998


  Brought the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, strengthened the protection of a whole range of rights and liberties, made civil liberties a firm part of UK law
• The Freedom of Information Act 2000


  Gives citizens the right to view information held by any public body, with exceptions for information that might threaten national security
• The Equality Act 2010


  Replaced several existing pieces of legislation, outlaws any kind of discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion, disablement and sexual orientation
• These Acts are fundamental in protecting our rights
• The judiciary, parliament and pressure groups are important at enforcing these laws and protecting our rights as citizens
• There is conflict over rights

  Particularly individual rights vs collective rights
• Individual rights


  • Freedom of expression
  • The right to privacy
  • The right to press freedom
  • The right to demonstrate in public places (right to association and free movement) and thus cause disruption
  • The right to strike in pursuit of pay and employment rights
• Conflicting collective rights

  • The right of religious groups not to have their beliefs satirised or questioned
  • The right of the community to be protected from terrorism by security services who may listen in to private communications
  • The right of public figures to keep their private lives private
  • The right of the community to their own freedom of movement
  • The right of the community to expect good service from public servants who are paid from taxation
• Rights protection cases

  • The Abu Qatada case (2012)
  • The Belmarsh ruling (2004)
  • The Poundland case (2013)
  • Segregation in schools ruling (2017)