Human rights and maladministration

Human rights

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is an international binding treaty reflecting the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. The UK ratified the ECHR in 1951, but it only became binding in UK law with the introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998) which came into force in October 2000, and makes those rights enforceable in courts of England and Wales.

The human rights are:

1. •

   Article 2—right to life

2. •

   Article 3—prohibition of torture

3. •

   Article 4—prohibition of slavery and forced labour

4. •

   Article 5—right to liberty and security

5. •

   Article 6—right to a fair trial

6. •

   Article 7—no punishment without law

7. •

   Article 8—right to respect for private and family life

8. •

   Article 9—freedom of thought, conscience and religion

9. •

   Article 10—freedom of expression

10. •

    Article 11—freedom of association

11. •

    Article 12—right to marry

12. •

    Article 14—prohibition from discrimination

13. •

    Article 16—restriction on political activities of aliens

14. •

    Article 17—prohibition of abuse of rights

15. •

    Article 18—limitation on use of restrictions on rights

16. •

    First Protocol: Article 1—protection of property

17. •

    First Protocol: Article 2—right to education

18. •

    First Protocol: Article 3—right to free