Leading human rights experts to give evidence on Rights after Brexit
On Tuesday 26 March the House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee will discuss ‘Rights after Brexit' including devolution issues, hearing from the Director of Legal for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Director of Legal, Research, Investigations and Advice to Government at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, and a Member of the First Minister's Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership.
The Committee has undertaken a series of inquiries into the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and of UK citizens in the EU, before, during and after Brexit. This latest inquiry is considering the potential impacts of Brexit upon human rights in the UK, and seeks to get answers to some of the most fundamental issues that, just weeks away from the UK's departure, are still outstanding.
Giving evidence to the Committee at 10:45am will be:
- Clare Collier, Legal Director, Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Colin Caughey, Director of Legal, Research, Investigations and Advice to Government, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
- Dr Katie Boyle, Associate Professor in International Human Rights Law, University of Stirling, Member of the First Minister's Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership
Questions are likely to include:
- Given the Government's confirmation to us that it may still consider reforming the human rights framework by repealing or replacing the Human Rights Act 1998, once the process of EU exit has been completed, are you concerned that there is a threat to human rights and the rule of law?
- How concerned are you about drafting changes to the Political Declaration? The declaration has gone from stating the “reaffirmation of the UK's commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights”, to a more diluted “respect the framework of the ECHR”.
- Do you believe rights protections in the UK will be weakened due to the removal of the Charter?
- How significant is the removal of supremacy of EU law and, based on past precedent, are there any particular areas of law where you believe this will have an immediate impact?
- Concerns have been expressed about the status of individuals in Northern Ireland who identify as Irish Nationals and how their rights will be protected under the Withdrawal Agreement. The UK Government has begun to negotiate agreements with the Irish Government to formalise some of the arrangements relating to the Common Travel Area. Will this be sufficient to resolve these issues?
The session will be held in Committee Room 3, House of Lords.
