UK human rights reform: a reminder of relevant international human rights obligations

Domestic protection of human rights in the United Kingdom appears to be at a crossroads.

At Westminster, the Bill of Rights Bill, which proposes to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 and replace it with a substantially weaker human rights framework, is awaiting second reading in the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, at Holyrood, a consultation on a new Human Rights Bill is expected to take place in the summer. The consultation follows the report of the National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership, which recommended that the Scottish Parliament domestically incorporate a range of international human rights commitments, including economic, social and cultural rights and the right to a healthy environment in addition to specific rights belonging to children, women, disabled people, and ethnic minority people and rights for older persons and for LGBTI communities.

Human rights reform proposals are also being worked on in Wales and Northern Ireland.

It would be fair to say however, that each of these proposals is surrounded by significant uncertainty.