Human rights are legal obligations owed by states and public authorities to everyone. This means that governments and public authorities must act in a way that respects human rights. Governments must also pass laws to ensure that individuals respect each other's human rights. Every human being has human rights regardless of their particular situation or characteristics.
The human rights of people in the UK are legally enforceable through the Human Rights Act 1998 (see below). The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) incorporates the rights found in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
History of the European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act .
The European convention on human rights is an international treaty which protects the human rights and fundamental freedom in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then council of Europe after the second world war and coming into play September 3, 1953, it contains a total of 18 Articles and six Protocols and gives practical form to certain of the rights and freedoms embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and provides a list of guaranteed rights such as the right to life, the prohibition of torture, slavery and forced labour, the right to liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, respect for private and family life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, the right to marry, the right to an effective remedy and the prohibition of discrimination.
Also the convention has played primary roles in the development and awareness of human rights in Europe. It was made to incorporate traditional civil liberty in securing effective political democracy from the strongest traditions in United Kingdom, France and some other member states of the council of Europe. The United Kingdom was one of the first countries that signed up followed by other members consisting of most of the east Europe and former communist countries.
