Human Rights - Before HR Acts (ECHR)1998 Flashcards
What was the Magna Carta 1215?
It first acknowledged that subjects of the crown had legal rights and laws could apply to kings and queens too. The Magna Carta was also the first step in giving us the right of trial by a jury of our peers.
What was the Habeas Corpus Act 1679?
This law protected and extended the rights of a detained person to go before a judge to determine whether their detention was legal.
What was the English Bill of Rights 1689?
This limited the powers of the monarch and set out the rights of Parliament. It included the freedom to petition the monarch (a step towards the political protest rights); the freedom from cruel and unusual punishments (the forerunner to the ban on torture contained in our Human Rights Act) and the freedom from being fined without trial.
What was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948?
The foundation of modern human rights which was set out by the United Nations in 1948 for universal rights and freedoms.
They organised a commission to draw up a document that dated the importance of civil, political, economic, and social rights o all people regardless of colour, religion, nationality, gender, or sexuality.
What was the European Convention on Human Rights 1950?
The Council of Europe used the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 to make a treaty for basic rights for their own citizens and other nationalities within their borders.
Unlike the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the ECHR can be relied on in a court of law.
What was the Race Relations Act 1965?
The first legislation in the UK against racial discrimination. Also set up the Race Relations Board to consider complaints brought under the Act.
What was the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1965?
The first Human Rights treaty that was adopted by the UN. The convention defines race discrimination and sets out a framework to ensure rights for all regardless of race.
What happened when the UK signed up for the European Court of Human Rights 1966?
Six years after it was created, the UK granted the ‘individual petition’ which was the right for people to take their cases straight to the court in Strasbourg (European Court of Human Rights).
What was the Sex Discriminations Act 1975?
It made sex-based discrimination illegal in areas of employment, education, and the provision of goods, facilities and services.
What was the Race Relations Act 1976?
The Act made laws which stop race discrimination and made it illegal in employment, training, housing, education and the provision of goods, facilities, and services.
What was the International Convent on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 1976?
Emphasised the importance of economic, social, and cultural rights and holds the state accountable for their obligations to protect these rights.
The general principles were originally expressed by Universal Declaration on Human Rights but this bill, the declaration, and ICCPR make up the International Bill of Rights.
What was the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979?
This is referred to as the ‘bill of rights for women’ and sets out core principles to protect women’s rights.
What was the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1984?
Most comprehensive international treaty that deals with torture and was the first binding international instrument dedicated preventing torture.
What was the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989?
Governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting this convention (CRC/UNCRC). Says a children under the age of 18 have the same rights but with additional needs due to their vulnerability.
What was the Disability Discrimination Act 1995?
First far-reaching and anti-discrimination legislation for disabled people. It covered employment and training, education, goods, facilities and services, premises and transport.
What was the Human Rights Act 1998?
The Act incorporated into domestic law the rights and liberties enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. British courts could now hear cases on human right breaches.
What was the Universal Periodic Review 2006?
The new system meant that the human rights records of all member states would come under regular scrutiny.
What was the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 2008?
First human rights treaty of 21st century and reaffirms disabled peoples human rights and aims to make everyone equal.
What was the Equality Act 2010?
Brought over 116 pieces of legislation into one Act to protect individuals rights and aim for advance equality and opportunity for all.
