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01 March 2024 / Roger Smith
Issue: 8061 / Categories: Features , Human rights , Public , Constitutional law
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Human rights: old subject, new audience

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Roger Smith enters the world of local politics

I have recently taken on a new commitment. I have become chair of the local ward of a political party. It does not matter which. I could happily have survived in any of the factions which have surfaced in the three major national parties. The point is that, to make a bit of a splash at my first meeting, I chose to undertake a presentation on human rights.

This was, therefore, one of the few times that I have had to talk about the subject to a non-lawyer audience. As director of JUSTICE when the Human Rights Act came into force in 2000, I debated often with lawyers and politicians. But not too many ordinary people in the street. Or, as in this case, on Zoom.

I have to admit that my north London audience gave me an easy ride. I tried beforehand to find someone critical of human rights with whom I could have a debate. There are, after all,

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Thackray Williams—Lucy Zhu

Thackray Williams—Lucy Zhu

Dual-qualified partner joins as head of commercial property department

Morgan Lewis—David A. McManus

Morgan Lewis—David A. McManus

Firm announces appointment of next chair

Burges Salmon—Rebecca Wilsker

Burges Salmon—Rebecca Wilsker

Director joins corporate team from the US

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