The European Convention is not the only international human rights agreement to which the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries are part. However, over the years with the rise of democracy, it has become one of the premier agreements in defining standards of rights across Europe. It was also for many years unique because of the system, which it put in place for people from signatory countries to take complaints to Strasbourg and for those complaints are to be judicially determined. The rights and freedoms which are guaranteed under the Convention are ones with which the people of this country are plainly comfortable. They therefore afford an excellent basis for the Human Rights Bill, which was introduced in October 1998.
However, does the Human Rights Act 1998 promote or hinder democracy?
The Human Rights Act is different from other laws. It promises that the state will respect the rights and freedoms of the individual in a number of areas such as education and family life. It may be fair to claim that it is the closest thing we have to a Bill of Rights in the UK, and is relevant to all of us.
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