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Enforcing Human Rights

Inquiry

Human rights have been central to the UK constitution and its legal system throughout its history.

The following section of Magna Carta remains in force today, and can be found on the Government’s legislation website.

“We will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man either Justice or Right.”

For rights to be effective they have to be capable of being enforced. For that enforcement,
it is essential to have:

  • adequate access to legal information, advice and assistance for everyone at all
    income levels and in all areas of the country
  • a robustly independent judiciary
  • a robustly independent legal profession
  • a strong Equality and Human Rights Commission, held accountable for its work, and strong National Human Rights Institutions in the devolved administrations, similarly held accountable
  • a culture which understands the concept of the rule of law, respects human rights and accepts that they will be enforced and which is supported by the Government

Government response published