HUMAN RIGHTS MOTION FOR SUBMISSION TO LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FEDERAL CONFERENCE IN BRIGHTON IN SEPTEMBER 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference

 

 

 

1.            Notes that it is five years since the passing of the Human Rights Act 1998.

 

2.            Regrets that little progress has been made to promote and secure human rights in Britain in accordance with the principles of the Human Rights Act and that no Human Rights Commission has yet been established.

 

3.            Notes that the Government has shown little regard for citizens’ rights in many fields, particularly in its proposals for the criminal justice system, in its reduction in the scope of civil legal aid and in its treatment of asylum seekers.

 

4.            Notes that all too often the providers of public services in Britain, especially in health, in education, in housing and in social services, fail to ensure that their officers comply with the spirit of the Human Rights Act, particularly in ensuring respect for the family and private lives of their clients.

 

5.            Believes that to achieve a truly free society in Britain it is important to develop a culture of respect for human rights  where:

a)      citizens know and are able to enjoy their rights under the Human Rights Act,  subject to the rights of others and the general interest of the community;

b)      government officials at national and local level understand comply with their obligations to treat citizens in accordance with those rights and

c)      citizens are able to enforce those rights without undue difficulty, delay or expense.

 

6.            Calls on the Government to give effect to the recommendation by the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Human Rights to set up a Human Rights Commission, whether or not combined with an Equality Commission, and to introduce a single Equality Act.

 

7.            Believes that well run local authorities can play an important part in the development of such a human rights culture.

 

 

 

8.            Accordingly, encourages all principal local authorities to take the following steps to promote human rights:

 

i)        the inclusion of human rights education within the teaching of citizenship in schools.

ii)      establishment of human rights training programmes for officials and the providers of public services within their local authority areas.

iii)    the production and publication of leaflets for distribution to the public and notices for display in public places, in particular in local authority offices and on the premises of the providers of public services, explaining citizens’ rights under the Human Rights Act.

iv)    the appointment of an officer as Human Rights Officer for the authority with responsibility:

a)      to co-ordinate and run human rights training within the local authority area;

b)      to develop human rights awareness among members of the public;

c)      to act as a contact point to assist members of the public in the enforcement of their human rights;

d)      to ensure that the Local Authority itself complies with the Human Rights Act;

e)      to encourage other providers of public services within the local authority area to comply with the Human Rights Act;

f)       to report to the Local Authority annually on the exercise of the above functions.

 

 

 

ENDS