Keep the UK signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights
The European Convention on Human Rights protects everyone’s rights, no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love, or what you believe.
But senior government ministers are calling on Rishi Sunak to drag the UK out of the European Convention – so they can push through proposals that will breach refugees' rights.
This is a dangerous threat that affects everyone’s human rights and it must be stopped.
What’s happening?
The European Convention on Human Rights has improved our lives in so many ways – protecting the rights of disabled people, helping to decriminalise homosexuality across the UK, and defending the freedom of our press.
It held our Government accountable for its unlawful use of mass surveillance and was instrumental to the forging of peace in Northern Ireland.
Last year, a ruling under the European Convention grounded the Government’s first planned deportation flights to Rwanda because the plan put refugees at risk of serious harm.
But the Government didn’t like this ruling, and senior ministers are now calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights so that deportation flights can start taking off.
This is a clear power grab that would allow the Government to knowingly commit human rights abuses whilst undermining the rights of everyone in the UK.
Please chip into our fund and help us fight to defend the European Convention and protect human rights for all.
What is the European Convention?
You might not think about your human rights every day, but life would be very different without them.
The right to a fair trial. Freedom of expression. The right to respect for your privacy and family life. The right to life. These are just a handful of the many rights protected under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Since 1953, the Convention has enshrined our human rights in law and protected us from abuse by the State.
It was drawn up in response to the terrible atrocities of the Holocaust and the Second World War. Its guiding principle was “never again”.
The UK played a key role in the birth of the European Convention, and British lawyers were instrumental in drafting it.
But the UK could now become the first nation to withdraw voluntarily from the European Convention on Human Rights.
The only other European nations not signed up are Belarus, and Russia – which was expelled because of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is unthinkable that ministers are seriously considering turning their backs on more than half a century of human rights cooperation in Europe – as well as their duty to protect refugees.
We must come together to oppose this attack on our human rights.
Help us fight back
We saw off the threat to the Human Rights Act, and with your support we can prevent this new threat to our human rights.
Your donation will help us:
- Engage the media in our campaign and build support in Parliament
- Help people understand their rights under the European Convention – and what it would mean to lose them
- Produce new campaign resources that will empower people to take action
- Show the strength of support for the Convention from different parts of society
- Grow the number of signatories to our pledge to protect the Convention
To do all this we need to raise at least £18,000. Can you chip in?
We all want to live in a society where people are treated with dignity and respect. The European Convention on Human Rights helps us towards this dream.
Either everyone has human rights, or no one does. We will not be divided.
We must take action to defend our rights and ensure the UK stays signed up to the Convention.
Please donate now.
The Civil Liberties Trust (1024948) is Liberty’s charitable sister organisation. Any unused or additional funds raised will be used to support Liberty’s work to protect and promote human rights in the UK.