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Using 'Human Rights' to empower and protect - Human Rights Blog 2

In the second of our blogs on 'Human Rights' we'll explore how human rights can be used to protect and empower citizens. There's also a survey at the end - please read on and take part if you can. 

Citizens using law to protect their rights

The UK government must uphold international human rights treaties that have been brought in to law in the UK e.g. the Human Rights Act 1998. This means that if the UK government breaches these laws, citizens are able to hold the government to account by lobbying for change or even take them to court. This is a great tool for UK citizens, particularly those experiencing discrimination, to ensure their rights are protected.

However, despite these laws being in place, it takes work at a local and community level to make human rights a reality. If more people have understanding of their rights, collectively, they can put pressure on the government to ensure they stick to their own laws.  

‘Rights might be universal, but their enforcement must be local’, Murray Rothbard

Using Human Rights to protect people with disabilities

For individuals with disabilities, human rights can be a significant tool for seeking equality and justice. Various articles from the European Convention on Human Rights have been used by people with disabilities to protect their rights. For example:

Article 2: 'The Right to Life' has been relied upon by persons with disabilities when the state's failure to provide adequate treatment resulted in their death.

Article 3: 'Prohibition of Torture' has been used to ensure safe conditions of detention and necessary assistance for persons with disabilities.

Article 6: 'The Right to a Fair Trial' has been utilized to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in legal proceedings concerning their legal capacity.

Have your say

We would like you learn more about the inequalities that you have faced as a person with a disability or a carer of a person with a disability. We have created questionnaires for you to fill out:

Survey for people with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus

Survey for parents and carers

In our next blog post we will explore what laws and policies exist in Scotland and the UK that our service users should be aware of and can use to protect their human rights. If you'd like to talk about your rights, please email our team 

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