Key Takeaways
- A group of 21 well-known figures, including Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, and Joanna Lumley, are calling on Keir Starmer to drop plans to weaken human rights law
- The group is opposing changes to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) that would limit the scope of rights under article 3, which prohibits torture and "inhuman or degrading treatment"
- The changes are aimed at stopping asylum seekers from using their rights to avoid deportation, but human rights campaigners and some Labour peers are resisting the move
- The group is warning that undermining universal protections would be an affront to human rights and a threat to global security
- The issue will be discussed at a Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg, where David Lammy will argue for changes to the ECHR
Introduction to the Issue
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a cornerstone of human rights law in Europe, and its article 3 is an absolute right that prohibits torture and "inhuman or degrading treatment". However, the UK government is planning to introduce changes to the ECHR that would limit the scope of this right, in an effort to stop asylum seekers from using it to avoid deportation. This move has been met with opposition from human rights campaigners, Labour peers, and a group of 21 well-known figures, including Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, and Joanna Lumley.
The Opposition to Changes
The group of 21 well-known figures has written a letter to the prime minister, urging him to drop plans to weaken human rights law. The letter, which was compiled by the pressure group Freedom From Torture, argues that any attempt to undermine universal protections would be an affront to human rights and a threat to global security. The signatories, who also include Julian Barnes, Adrian Lester, and Aisling Bea, are warning that changes to article 3 would prompt other authoritarian countries to take more drastic and damaging action. They are calling on the prime minister to "take a principled stand" for torture victims and to resist any attempts to roll back vital protections.
The Government’s Position
The government has argued that the changes are necessary to stop asylum seekers from using their rights to avoid deportation. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced plans to introduce measures to limit the scope of rights under article 3, and David Lammy, the deputy prime minister and justice secretary, will argue for these changes at a Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg. However, human rights campaigners and some Labour peers are resisting the move, arguing that it would open the door to countries abandoning some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
The Implications of the Changes
The changes to article 3 would have significant implications for human rights law in Europe. Veronika Fikfak, a professor of international law at University College London, has warned that a change to article 3 "touches the very core" of the convention. She argues that the prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment is an absolute right that allows for no balancing, and that there is no margin of appreciation for states. The changes would also have implications for the UK’s global influence and its reputation as a champion of human rights.
The International Context
The issue of human rights law is not just a national concern, but also an international one. The Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg will bring together ministers from 45 countries to discuss possible changes to the ECHR. Nine member states, including Italy and Denmark, have already signed a letter calling for the scope of the ECHR to be limited. The UK government’s plans to introduce changes to the ECHR are part of a broader international debate about the balance between human rights and national security.
Conclusion
The debate about the changes to the ECHR is a complex and contentious one, with significant implications for human rights law in Europe and beyond. The group of 21 well-known figures is calling on the prime minister to drop plans to weaken human rights law and to take a principled stand for torture victims. The issue will be discussed at a Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg, and the outcome will have significant implications for the UK’s global influence and its reputation as a champion of human rights. As the letter from the group of 21 well-known figures argues, "this moment is bigger than politics. It is about what kind of nation we want to be and what kind of world we want to live in."