Recommendation 7

The Human Rights Act 1998 is the cornerstone of human rights protection in domestic law. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has previously been critical of disapplication of parts of the HRA because it weakens human rights protections for particular groups, and thereby undermines the fundamental principle of the universality of human rights. The Bill would go further than ever before, disapplying almost all of the key provisions of the HRA in respect of removals to Rwanda. This is inconsistent with respect for universal human rights and for the UK’s obligations under the ECHR. By expressly legislating to allow public authorities to act incompatibly with Convention rights the Bill also risks undermining the rights- compliant culture that should exist in all public bodies. This risk is exacerbated by issuing guidance requiring civil servants to act incompatibly with interim measures from the European Court of Human Rights. (Paragraph 95) Interim measures from the European Court of Human Rights