Human Rights Inquiry

Presentation to the Equality and Diversity Forum

John Wadham – Claire Thieulin Lesko

Human Rights Inquiry

• Inquiry under s.16 of the Equality Act• Terms of Reference:– To assess progress towards the effectiveness and

enjoyment of a culture of respect for human rights in Great Britain, and

– To consider how the current human rights framework might best be developed and used to realise the vision of a society built on fairness and respect, confident in all aspects of its diversity.

Scope of the Inquiry

• Geographical scope:

• Initially be restricted to England and Wales.• consider options for extending the Inquiry to

Scotland. • “Human Rights Framework”:

• Focus on human rights currently incorporated by HRA

• Not exclude evidence about sue of international treaties

Human Rights Inquiry Commissioners

The lead Commissioners on this inquiry are:

• Dame Nuala O’Loan, Former Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (Chair)

• Franscesca Klug, EHRC Commissioner• Sir Bert Massie, EHRC Commissioner• Neil Wooding, EHRC Commissioner

Key Stages of the Inquiry (1)

• Launch of final TORs and call for evidence: 21 April 2008

• Evidence Gathering: call for evidence launched today-deadline for response 21 June 2008

Service Users and their representatives

Public Authorities

Positive implementation

Negative use

Key Stages of the Inquiry (2)• Research Projects (May to Sep):– Impact of human rights cases– Case Studies of Good Practice Examples– Role of Inspectorates and complaint and monitoring

bodies– Inquiry panels to hear oral evidence from service

providers, users and inspectorates– Evidence gathering on factors influencing public attitudes

• Expect to report late 2008

More information

For more information about the Inquiry and the call for evidence, please visit our webpage at:

www.equalityhumanrights.com/humanrightsinquiry