Victims of major institutional injustices in the UK have joined forces to urge government officials not to dismantle crucial human rights safeguards. Affected families from incidents like Grenfell, Hillsborough, contaminated blood, Windrush, and Covid-related tragedies have penned a compelling letter emphasizing the significance of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in the current climate. The proposed Bill by Nigel Farage to exit the ECHR was strongly opposed by campaigners who deemed such a move disastrous.
In their letter, the groups highlighted the pivotal role of the ECHR in exposing state concealment and shortcomings. They underscored that without the ECHR’s protections, their battles would have been more arduous and devoid of hope. The Convention provided a platform to demand transparency, enforce accountability, and challenge authority, serving as a bulwark against silence.
The signatories, including various advocacy groups and legal representatives from high-profile cases, emphasized that withdrawing from the ECHR, a cornerstone since 1950 with Winston Churchill’s backing, would constitute a betrayal. They stressed that in a tumultuous world marred by division and authoritarian tendencies, the values upheld by the ECHR are indispensable.
Tom Morrison, Amnesty UK’s Legal Protection for Human Rights Campaign Manager, remarked on the unity displayed by campaigners from significant justice movements and urged political leaders to heed their collective voice. He underscored the ECHR’s role as a crucial avenue for justice when state institutions falter, warning that weakening it could silence those most in need of its protection.
While Reform UK and the Tory Party advocate for the UK’s withdrawal from the ECHR citing border security concerns, Keir Starmer of the Labour Party emphasized the need to reevaluate the ECHR’s interpretation without supporting an exit.
Despite a recent defeat of Farage’s Bill in Parliament, critics like Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey condemned the initiative, asserting that the ECHR empowers individuals to hold the powerful accountable and seek justice in the face of abuse of authority. Farage defended his stance by expressing public discontent and questioning the influence of foreign judges on UK laws.