
Our submission to the consultation to reform the HRA
The UK Human Rights Act (1998) protects the rights of vulnerable people and minorities. But that protection could be seriously limited if the Act is repealed, amended or replaced. Any change to this important law must build on the safeguards already provided – by enshrining additional rights in law, rather than subtracting from them.
The Human Rights Act ensures that all UK public bodies (such as courts, police, local governments, hospitals, publicly funded schools) and other bodies carrying out public functions comply with the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
The rights protected by the HRA include:
-the right to life
-freedom from torture and degrading treatment
-freedom from slavery and forced labour
-the right to liberty
-the right to a fair trial
-and many other rights that we take for granted. Importantly, these rights apply to everyone, irrespective of their race, gender, religion or other protected status.
Lots done in ’21, lots more to do in ’22
There is no need to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights.
A week of action against the Policing Bill, the Nationality and Borders Bill and the review of the Human Rights Act What’s going on? The Government are pushing through a […]
As the government reviews the Human Rights Act, we will be posting information here on how the Act helps ordinary people in their everyday lives.
René Cassin’s response to call for evidence by the Independent Human Rights Act Review
Find out how you can be involved and make your voice heard
Let’s work to hold on to the benefits of Human Rights Act and European Convention
René Cassin statement on Human Rights Day 2020
Discover how our human rights safety net helps ordinary people in their everyday lives. Debora Singer MBE is the safeguarding human rights lead at Rene Cassin. In this 15-minute presentation […]
René Cassin virtual roundtable, 20 May 2020 with Rebecca Hilsenrath, CEO, Equality and Human Rights Commission chaired by Daniel Silverstone (Chair of René Cassin Board of Trustees) An invitation-only roundtable […]
Discover how our human rights safety net can help ordinary people in their everyday lives – in our interactive workshop series
By Student Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber The glasses we usually associate with Pesach contain wine. But I think glasses have another connection with it as well. “During the emergency period, no […]
Coronavirus statement from Mia, René Cassin’s Executive Director
by Debora Singer, Updated April 2020 History of the Human Rights Act In 1948 the United Nations published the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This was written by our […]
With just over a week left until polling day, we have been thinking about what the future holds for human rights in the UK. We have read through the manifestos […]
Key questions to put to anyone asking for your vote on 12 December
René Cassin roundtable discussion, held under the Chatham House Rule. Thursday 31 October 2019 at Matrix Chambers, London. Keynote speaker Professor Philippe Sands QC.
By Simone Aspis Increasingly, the government is enacting legislation and policies that have the potential to treat disabled people less favourably than their non-disabled peers. Whilst law and policy is […]
Event with Prof Francesca Klug – Tues 10 Sep, 7pm – book your free tickets
Professor Geraldine van Bueren argues for a new approach
Sidney and Edith’s story Sidney and Edith have been married for 60 years. When Edith is allocated to a different care home to Sidney, she is distraught that she could […]
René Cassin booklet – Jews must be at the forefront of promoting universal rights
Mia Hasenson-Gross marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
BoD President marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Chief Rabbi marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Welcome to the Human Rights Shabbat Resource Pack for 5779 (2018). Whether you are a synagogue, youth movement, University J-SOC, cheder teacher or just an interested individual we hope that […]
René Cassin hosts roundtable discussion with leading experts, led by Lord Daniel Finkelstein
By Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission My father-in-law was 28 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted; living in New York […]
by Caroline Beck, Trustee, KeshetUK This year, we celebrate 20 years since the passing of the Human Rights Act, the landmark piece of UK legislation that has been protecting human […]
By Jess Baker @jessica_baker_ It is 7pm in a dull Calais car park, and well fed refugees are wandering away from our vans into the dark. I’ve finished my actual […]
In evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights, René Cassin highlights the importance of the Human Rights Act (HRA) in improving people’s lives in the UK, by letting people […]
By Lee Wax, Communications & Training Manager at Jewish Women’s Aid This past year marks the 20th anniversary of the UK Human Rights Act. It has also seen unprecedented change […]
This week René Cassin is celebrating twenty years of UK Human Rights
How the Human Rights Act helps ordinary people in everyday situations
René Cassin urges the govt to use Brexit to protect and strengthen human rights.
High Court upholds principles laid down 70 years ago in Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Find out the latest updates as the bill goes through the House of Lords
Don’t forget to vote at the local elections – Thursday 3 May
Many women continue to suffer from inequality in their homes, employment and in state institutions
Please help us make sure nobody loses their rights on the Brexit journey
Many women continue to suffer from inequality in their homes, employment and in state institutions
The Supreme Court has put down a very clear marker for victims’ rights
The UDHR was the civilised world’s response to the horrors of the Holocaust
René Cassin joins 30 other organisations to express concerns about impact of the EU Withdrawal Bill
Debora Singer writes movingly about her own family history…
Click here to view full video recording of Keir’s conversation with Jo Coburn
René Cassin was born 130 years ago today
Times columnist David Aaronovitch leads expert discussion of challenges and opportunities ahead
A free education pack aimed at citizenship education for key stage 4 and 5
The election results are in … now our real work starts
The key questions to ask your candidates
Human rights allow prosperity, peace and freedom to flourish
European Convention on Human Rights is essential to a ‘Global Britain’
We mourn the death of a friend who was a towering figure of human rights
Read our submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights’ inquiry: This is a time to be vigilant and ensure that none of our hard earned human rights protections and mechanisms are weakened”.
René Cassin have submitted evidence to the UK’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The UPR is a UN process that all 193 member countries go through every four and a half years […]
Today, forty Rabbis – coordinated by René Cassin – have written to new Justice Secretary, Liz Truss, urging her to keep the UK’s Human Rights Act
Today, forty Rabbis – coordinated by René Cassin – have written to new Justice Secretary, Liz Truss, urging her to keep the UK’s Human Rights Act
‘Refugee rights have always been precarious, and the state of politics in Europe and Britain make them look more vulnerable than ever’
Ben Brodie researches what impact repeal of the Human Rights Act might have on refugees and asylum seekers.
Conservative MP and former Attorney-General, Dominic Grieve QC, sets out why the Jewish community should care about the Human Rights Act.
“On the day the world reflects on one of the darkest episodes in human history, we should also remember that our rights and liberties – vital to protect us from such tyranny in the future – are hard-won, but easily squandered.” Holocaust Memorial Day – joint René Cassin / Liberty statement
‘For people who suffer from mental health issues, human rights legislation in the UK has proved a critical tool in securing justice and developing safeguards for their protection’ We looked […]
Despite negative reports from the media and political sectors, the public tends to be very receptive to the concept of legal protections of basic rights. Much of the important work the HRA does is rarely reported on.
Limmud Conference 2015 saw René Cassin present a number of human rights talks on issues surrounding our campaign areas. Our Campaigns Manager, Sam Grant, joined Adam Wagner and Aviva Dautch to […]
René Cassin has joined over 150 other organisations in calling on political leaders to stand with us this Human Rights Day. We have called on them to join in our […]
Today, on International Human Rights Day, Backbench MPs will debate the following motion: ‘This House has Considered the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights Across the World on International Human Rights […]
On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Read our latest blog piece on why, 67 years on, it is as […]
Happy Birthday to the Human Rights Act. Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Human Rights Act (HRA) as UK law. It’s a piece of legislation that has helped many […]
Sunday 4 October, 11am-3pm at JHub, Haskell House, 152 West End Lane, London, NW6 1SD
Join us for a Young People’s Day: awareness raising and community debate for young people, marking 15 years of the Human Rights Act and what it means for us all.
The Human Rights Act is often criticized for affording too many people the right to stay in the UK due to their right to a family life, even if they […]
From Magna Carta to Harmondsworth Article on the contradiction of celebrating the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta in an era where the UK is the only country in Europe not […]
Human Rights are Equally Ours Sometimes you can’t appreciate the value of something until it is taken away. So it is with human rights. Here is Ruth Barnett, talking about […]
There’s No Such Thing as Trivial Rights The Conservative Party’s proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), argues that one of the HRAs shortcomings is its failure to […]
The legislative framework for safeguarding human rights came about because of the need to protect people from the overweening power of the state – as witnessed by Nazi and Soviet […]
We mark International Human Rights Day 2014 by publishing ‘the Jewish case for human rights’. Read how human rights laws are vital to real people who are suffering, or have suffered, persecution and discrimination.
By Sam Grant, René Cassin Campaigns and Programmes Officer, July 2014 “Human rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were there long before lawmakers drafted their first […]