UN report calls for UK human rights commission

The UK needs a human rights commission to act as a watchdog, receive complaints and take legal action where necessary, according to a United Nations report which is harshly critical of the UK's human rights record.The report, published by the UN human rights committee this week, highlighted 16 specific failings, and made recommendations for change.Areas most harshly criticised were the government's 'unacceptable' detention of asylum seekers for 'reasons of administrative convenience'.The report also noted 'with concern' that the government's planned anti-terrorist laws 'may have potentially far-reaching effects' on rights guaranteed in the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Britain is a signatory.The Law Society was one of 12 groups to make a joint statement to the committee earlier this year ([2001] Gazette, 5 July, 6), drawing attention to inadequate methods for protecting human rights in the UK, and calling for a human rights commission to be established similar to that Northern Ireland.Although the committee said it 'appreciates the establishment of specialised bodies to deal with various specific areas of discrimination, such as the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission', it called for a separate national human rights commission.

A Law Society spokeswoman welcomed the news, and said: 'We are broadly in favour of a human rights commission to offer independent advice and monitoring to ensure that human rights are fully embedded in our culture.'The government has long said it has an open mind on the issue.LINKS: www.unhchr.ch/Victoria MacCallum