Edrychwch ar y dudalen yma yn Gymraeg
Following the launch of our inquiry into the state of human rights in Britain today, we are now calling for evidence from public authorities, such as hospitals, government and schools, and those who use their services to find out if people are being treated with dignity and respect.
The Commission wants to draw up an accurate picture of how the Human Rights Act is working and what improvements can be made and is asking people to fill in a short questionnaire to tell the inquiry about their experiences, both good and bad.
The Commission wants to know from anyone who has used human rights arguments to challenge the way they were treated by a public service. It would also like to hear from service providers who treat people fairly by adopting a human right based approach.
The questionnaire is part of a wider inquiry, which aims to examine how the current human rights framework might be developed and used to realise the vision of a society built on fairness and respect and confident in all aspects of it diversity. Its scope emerged out of a consultation with more than 200 organisations, including unions and advocacy groups.
Chair of the Commission, Trevor Phillips said: “Human rights legislation has been used to help individuals, such as the elderly and disabled people, who are faced with indignity at the hands of the state. It should help those who are at risk from the heavy-handed application of authority.
“But the Commission wants to build an active human rights culture and if we are successful, human rights principles, as basic principles of decency and dignity, will be embedded into public authorities' approach to service delivery. The findings from this inquiry will help us demonstrate how human rights can change society for the better, for us collectively, and for us individually.”
For more information about the Inquiry and to download a call for evidence response form, please follow this link.
The evidence will be vital in helping to make this inquiry as comprehensive as possible. Forms should be sent by 21st June 2008.
Please contact the Commission’s helpline for evidence forms in alternative formats such as Braille, easy read, audio CD.
Responses should be sent to:
- email: HRI@equalityhumanrights.com
- fax: 0207 407 7557 – Please send faxes for the attention of the Human Rights Inquiry team
- Post: FREEPOST, RRUY-EJHS-CKGT, Equality and Human Rights Commission - Human Rights Inquiry, 3 More London, Riverside, Tooley Street, London SE1 2RG
- Or for answers by telephone or textphone, please contact the Commission’s helpline:
England main number - 0845 604 6610
England textphone - 0845 604 6620
Wales main number - 0845 604 8810
Wales textphone - 0845 604 8820
For more information contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission Media Office on 02031170255, out of hours 07767272818.
Ends
Notes to editors
The Inquiry, announced on 6th March 2008, comes as Britain approaches the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Human Rights Act and the 60th anniversary of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It will be chaired by Dame Nuala O'Loan, the former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman who led the investigation into the Omagh bombings.
Under the Human Rights Act, “public authorities” includes both those bodies which would usually be thought of as public authorities (like local authorities) but also private or voluntary organisations when they are carrying out public functions (for example, a private company running a prison). Our inquiry applies to all the public authorities covered by the Act.
For more information about human rights before filling in the form people can check the human rights section of our website.
Geographical scope: The inquiry will initially be restricted to England and Wales. Once the Scottish Commission for Human Rights is operational, we hope to extend the inquiry to Scotland.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.