Human Rights Act fit for purpose

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) published its initial response to the government’s Independent Human Rights Act Review last week.

The JCHR said the Act had had a positive impact on the enforcement of human rights in the UK, and found that there was no case for reform under the terms of reference of the government’s review.

The chair of the committee, Ms Harriet Harman QC MP said: ‘Giving our courts a role in enforcing the rights given in the European Convention on Human Rights, has enabled individuals to enforce their rights, has added a UK judicial perspective on the ECHR and meant that there are now hardly any European Court rulings against the UK Government.’