Human Rights Legislation Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. Introduction ................................................................................................... ................................................................ Fundamental Rights in the UK ....................................................................................................................................... Tl~eE~lropear~ Coilventiorl 011 HLII?IL~IIRights ......................................................................................................... The Prospect of lr~corporc~tionof the ECHR ............................................................................................................ Beyorld the ECHR: Other Hurnc~ilRights I~lstrumeirtsa11d a Dornestic Bill qfRiglzts ................................ Scope of this Report .......................................................................................................................................................... Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................ CHAPTER 2: STATUS AND JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION ........................ Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... Content of the ECHR ......................................................................................................................................................... Tl~eCon~~et~tioi~ nncl its Protocols ............................................................................................................................. Distinction between Ratification and Incorporation ............................................................................................. The Coilver~tionCIS an Interr~ationalObligniion ..................................................................................................... Tile Approacl~of Other Member States ................................................................................................................... The Approach oftlle UK .............................................................................................................................................. Entrenchment and the British Constitution ............................................................................................................. Membership of the Europeni? Com~wunity............................................................................................................... Status of Human Rights Instruments in Other Countries ..................................................................................... judicicrl Entrer~ckmer~t................................................................................................................................................. Judicial Ei~trer~cl~menlS~hject to Parlininentar)~Offerride ................................................................................. Lilnited Judicial Ei~trencllment.................................................................................................................................. I~lterpretnti~leTool On1.y ............................................................................................................................................... Status of the ECHR in the UK Following Incorporation ........................................................................................ Jurlicial Er~trei~chrv~ent................................................................................................................................................. Judicial Entrerlchnzent Subjrct to Parliarner~inr~~Override or Limited Judicial Entrenclrrnei~t................ Interpretrrtive Tool 011ly............................................................................................................................................... Hybrid Models ................................................................................................................................................................. Derogations ..................................................................................................................................................................... Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................... CHAPTER 3: THE MACHINERY OF IMPLEMENTATION: THE COURTS ................................................................. 43 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... Jurisdiction of the Courts .............................................................................................................................................. Using the ECHR ............................................................................................................................................................. The Forurn for the Deterinination of ECHR Issues ................................................................................................ Fir~aI Court of Appeal ................................................................................................................................................... Re/afions/?ip luith the Strc.lsbo~rvgEnforcement Bodies ....................................................................................... Judicial Appointments .................................................................................................................................................... Rights Against Whom ...................................................................................................................................................... Locus Standi ....................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Filtering Procedures .......................................................................................................................................................... 54 Methods of Judicial Interpretation and Rules of Evidence .................................................................................. 56 Award of Costs ................................................................................................................................................................... 59 CONTENTS L . CHAPTER 4: PRE-LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS ....... 61 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 62 International Practice ........................................................................................................................................................ 62 Millistr~~oJ Justice ........................................................................................................................................................ 63 P~rlio~iirr~taryScrutir~y Corntnitlee ............................................................................................................................ 63 lllrlrperlderlt Legislcrti~~eAdr~isory Cornrnltter or Cornriiissiorl ............................................................................ 64 Current UK Practice and Precedents ............................................................................................................................ 65 UI( Practice Following Incorporation ........................................................................................................................... 66 p~r/ia/~e/~t..................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................ 74 CHAPTER 5: ENFORCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION OUTSIDE THE COURTS .......................... 77 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 78 International Practice ........................................................................................................................................................ 78 Current UK Practice and Precedents ............................................................................................................................. 79 UK Practice Following Incorporation ..........................................................................................................................79 Hurnori Rigl~tsCoriirnission ........................................................................................................................................