Rights law runs risk of failure
By Terence Shaw, Legal Correspondent
MOVES to make the European Human Rights Convention enforceable in British courts risk failure because of inadequate guidance to public authorities on how to comply, warns a report today.
The report by the Institute for Public Policy Research claims that unless the Government makes better provision for training bodies such as councils, health authorities and schools, they risk a plethora of litigation.
A Government Bill to incorporate the European Human Rights Convention into British law is currently before Parliament and is expected to come into force by 2000.
It will become illegal for public authorities and some private bodies to infringe rights protected by the Convention. UK courts will decide human rights cases.
The report claims that although the Government is planning to spend £5 million on training the judiciary, few arrangements are being made for preparing High Street solicitors and Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, who will be advising potential claimants, and for public authorities.
Its authors want a Human Rights Commission established to advise and train all public bodies and scrutinise proposed legislation and Government policy to ensure it does not breach the European Convention.
In a White Paper which accompanied the Human Rights Bill last October, the Government said it had not ruled out the idea of a Human Rights Commission for the UK. But it would want more detailed consideration and greater consensus on what form it should take.
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