British Institute of Human Rights Coordinates Open Letter to UK Political Leaders on Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
London, UK – On Monday, December 9th, 2024, in commemoration of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) has coordinated an open letter to the Prime Minister and other political leaders. The letter has been signed by over 70 organizations from all four nations of the UK and aims to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to upholding human rights.
Published on BIHR’s website, the letter coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the organization responsible for the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The UK was a founding member of the Council of Europe. The letter acknowledges the significance of the formation of the Council of Europe and the ECHR, stating that it “marked a coming together of countries across Europe to solidify their commitment to the UDHR and to protecting universal human rights.”
The open letter also celebrates the spirit of collaboration and unity reflected not only on the international stage but also in the diverse communities that make up the UK. Signatories of the letter include grassroots groups, UK-wide charities, policy organizations, and legal firms, among others. They highlight everyday examples of human rights in action, such as the cooperation between social workers and clients and family members’ advocacy for their loved ones.
The letter emphasizes the role of those in positions of public power in upholding human rights. It calls on political leaders to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to its human rights obligations, both domestically and internationally, and make their own commitments to promoting a culture of respect for human rights across the UK.
According to Sanchita Hosali, CEO of BIHR, “Human Rights Day is a moment for us to mark not just the words on paper, but the actions made possible by our legal protections that empower people to drive forward real change in our towns, community centers, support groups, schools, housing, hospitals, care homes, refuges, social services, and elsewhere.” She also acknowledges that although there is much to celebrate, there is still much to be done. Hosali calls on the Prime Minister, government, and political leaders to reaffirm their commitment to protecting human rights and make it a reality in people’s lives.
The open letter, coordinated by BIHR, will be sent to the Prime Minister and other political leaders and will also be publicly available on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024, on BIHR’s website at bihr.org.uk/HRDay24. It will also be available in Easy Read and video formats. For prior access to the letter, contact Sanchita Hosali, CEO of BIHR, at ceo@bihr.org.uk or 020 3039 3646 (monitored voicemail).
December 10th marks global Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948. The preamble to the European Convention on Human Rights, adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950, reaffirms the UDHR’s aim of securing universal and effective observance of human rights. The UK’s Human Rights Act of 1998 integrates these Convention rights into UK law, making them enforceable at home.
BIHR will also be hosting a Human Rights Day event at the House of Lords on December 10th from 11 am to 12:30 pm. The letter will be shared at the event, and attendees will hear speeches from Lord Ponsonby, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, and community groups that have participated in BIHR’s program to co-design a human rights support solution to social justice issues. For more information on this program, visit bihr.org.uk/our-work/our-programmes/transforming-communities/community-programme-2022-2025.
The British Institute of Human Rights is a registered charity working across the UK to achieve social change through human rights. They work directly with people, communities, and public bodies to change practices and amplify evidence of human rights in action to influence policy.
The open letter has been signed by 73 organizations, including SMK Law Solicitors, C-Change Scotland, and Fair Justice System for Scotland Group (FJSS Group). The full list of signatories can be found on BIHR’s website.
BIHR is a registered charity (1101575) and registered company (4978121). Their registered address is c/o Nordens Farringdon Ltd., 8 Coldbath Square, London, EC1R 5HL. For more information, visit bihr.org.uk or email info@bihr.org.uk.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Human Rights Consortium Scotland, on Friday 06 December, 2019. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/