Human rights in the UK

Human Rights in the UK

There are specific rights in the UK that every individual has. The UK implemented the majority of the rights from the European convention on human rights in to UK law. The only article missed out was article 13 which the government deemed to be covered by the human rights articles in general and therefore felt it needn’t be included. Human rights in the UK are there to ensure that every individual has rights in place to ensure a happy, safe and private lifestyle. Rights in the UK are assigned to every individual from the day they are born, no individual can be born without right in the UK. Rights in the UK are legislated by the Human Rights Act 1998, any infringement upon this by the UK as a country can be taken in front of the European court on Human Rights. The following lists the rights that any individual living in the UK is entitled to:

Rights in the UK

• The right to life: This article is clearly self explanatory, every individual has the right to life, this is one of the main reasons for the continued abolition of the death sentence penalty.
• The right to freedom of expression: Individuals are free to express themselves as they please, there are certain restrictions where the speech or writing is aimed to lower the opinions of how right thinking members of society hold another person, especially when this information is false.
• The right to freedom of assembly: This is seen to coincide with the freedom of expression, individuals have the right to express themselves through group assembly, this relates to such situations as calmly mannered protests and so on.
• The right to privacy: Individuals have a basic right to privacy although this isn’t complete privacy. Where an individual is suspected or criminal actions, or their actions within their home are against the law, they cannot claim that they have the right to privacy and the respect of that within their home. Their home can be entered and the relevant actions carried out which are in breach of this right to privacy but are done in the interests of society.
• The right to personal liberty: Every individual has the right to be free from state interference of their lives, lives shouldn’t be regulated as long as the actions being carried out aren’t against the law and as long as the individual is not held in any state penitentiary.
• The right to an education: This right is self explanatory, individuals have the right to be taught and learn.
• The right to marry and start a family: There are no restrictions in the UK on family policy unlike in countries such as China where a one child per family policy has been law for years.
• The right to trial: If an individual is convicted of a crime they have the right to a fair trial in the relevant court system.
• The right to be free from torture, degrading treatment, slavery and forced labour: These human rights come in front of the European court of Human rights more often than others due specifically to war crimes. In war there are many infringements of these sorts, none of which are allowed even in the heat of war.

Non-governmental organisations involved

There are also non-governmental organisations that are heavily involved with human rights in the UK and ensuring that they are complied with. Amnesty international is the largest human rights organisation in the world and was set up in the UK.