Month: August 2022

What is the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union?

The Charter The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter) brings together the fundamental rights of everyone living in the European Union (EU). It was introduced to bring consistency and clarity to the rights established at different times and in different ways in individual EU Member States. The Charter sets out the

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What is the European Court of Human Rights?

The European Court of Human Rights is the court of law of the Council of Europe. It is based in Strasbourg, France. Set up in 1959, the Court ensures that Member States of the Council of Europe respect the rights and guarantees set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court is made up of

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How are your rights protected?

Human rights in Britain are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998. Anyone who is in the UK for any reason is protected by this Act, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The Act did not create human rights for British people. The rights and freedoms it covers were set out in the European Convention on

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The European Convention

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) protects the human rights of people in countries that belong to the Council of Europe. All 47 Member States of the Council, including the UK, have signed the Convention. Its full title is the ‘Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms’. What is the Council

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What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a historic document which outlined the rights and freedoms everyone is entitled to. It was the first international agreement on the basic principles of human rights.  It laid the foundation for the human rights protections that we have in the UK today.  It formed the basis of the European Convention on Human Rights, which in

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What are human rights?

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death.  They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life. They can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted – for example if a

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