Human Rights Act 1998; this was created on the 1st October 2000, it was designed to give more effect to the rights and freedom promised in the EU Convention of Human Rights into the British Law. It allowed the UK Courts a solution for breach of a Convention right without the need to go to the European Court of Human Rights. It contains 10 sections of rights. For example; Right to Marry, Freedom of Assembly and Association, Right to Free Elections and Prohibition of Discrimination. The Human Right Act 1998 is important because it allows every individual rights and their freedom to be respected; and it also places an obligation on people with authorities to act in a way that is compatible with the Human Rights Act. Through this act it requires the courts to recognize the important of everyone and their views, regardless of sex, race, colour, language religion, social origin or political affiliation and it makes sure that their rights are protected. Having these rights respected is very important, this is because without the right to be able to vote in the election then they would have no say in who runs the country and how it is run in their communities, and everyone is allowed to vote regardless of their diversity. The Human Rights Act provides everyone with equal opportunities. Within the Army they anyone through the requirements that meets the criteria, regardless of their sexuality, religion or ethnic background.
All of these rights help and benefit each diversity because without them we would not be able to practise our diversities so freely like we are lucky enough to have in England. Whereas in other countries they aren’t allows as lucky as we are with their Human and Legal Right System. For example in Africa, the Human and Legal Rights given to the people are poor, resulting in society being treated unfairly and suffering because of the consequences. In also allows everyone to accept each other as equals, this improving the communities’ strengths.
Alongside these rights they have certain legislations and documentation to ensure that people’s rights are protected some of these are;
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; also known as PACE was formed to deal with contacts between the police and public when it comes to them exercise their powers to Stop and Search, Arrest and Search the premises regarding the treatment, questioning and identification of suspects. The duty of the Act is to ensure that there are set down safeguards for the protections of the Public. A copy of this Act can be found in every Police Station and can be requested by the individual if they feel that their Human Rights have been breached. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act is important because it makes sure that the individuals are not harmed during the time the police exercise their powers. This benefits both sides because it means that the Police can fulfil their duties and do what is needed of them and also the Publics Human Rights are respected.
Date Protection Act; this was formed to protect the personal information of individuals, because of the incline in the amount of identification theft. Although because of this organizations are asking for more personal information so that we are able to prove our identity, making us more liable for identify theft to happen to use if there is misuse of this information. The act makes the Government have an obligation to protect the privacy of the Public and also to stop unauthorised access and misuse of this information. It is part of our Human Rights mentioned above to have privacy. This is very important because if the wrong people gain our personal information we are at risk of losing money, our houses and also may be at risk of getting in trouble with the law because someone else has stolen our identity and used it as their own. Although this does not always work, this is evident with the rise in forgery, fraud and identify theft.
Legal Documents; these are very important because they prove who we are and also our citizenship. A birth certificate is given to everyone at birth, it can be used for identification and proof of age; it records the name of the individual, the place it was born and the Mother and Father of the Individual and their occupation, it is a legal requirement for all new births to be registered within 48 days of birth. This allows the country to monitor the population growth.
As you get older, aged 16, you are issued with a National Insurance Number; this is a compulsory scheme of monthly contributions throughout your working life toward your pension. The contribution you pay depends on the amount you earn. The Number ensures that any contributions paid by the individual will go into their personal account. The Number can be used to identity the individual to employees and the government. This system allows the individual to enjoy benefits offered by the state, and can motivate individuals to work harder with the promise of a good pension.
A work permit is issued to Non-UK citizens allowing them the right to work within the UK for a specific period of time. This doesn’t apply to UK Citizens because they are able to working without a permit. A visa is a separate document that allows individuals the right to visit the UK for a period of time. After this time expires they must return home, although this does not always happen with cause a lot of issues for the Government and uses a lot of money and time to track down the individuals.
A Passport is a legal document that allows individuals the right to travel freely aboard and return home at any time. Within this document it contains details such as; Name, Age, Gender, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Nationality and a Photo. Having a UK passport ensures other countries that that individuals does not intent to remain there and become a illegal resistant.
The difference between Legal and Human Rights are that Human Rights are things that we are morally enforced to do by society, and a Legal Right is something that is protected by the law, like the Human Rights Act. Although not all these rights work for everyone because not everyone agree with the way that the rights are executed, although they do protect everyone’s human rights to a reasonable standard, where as in other countries they have poor human and legal rights, having not many rights available for the people resulting in the citizens suffering and being treated unfairly by the government. Although even in the UK the Rights that are available for the citizens have sometimes been taken for granted. With all the rights mentioned above they all in their own way help and protect each citizen. Although they also help increase the communities gain respect for each other and treat each other as equals regardless of them being from different diversities. Although this can also have a complete different effect with all the many different laws and legislations it is often that the Public Services and other Government organization get into trouble because of how strict and confounded the Human Rights legislation are, sometimes they are not allows allowed to fulfil their job to the satisfaction that they feel is needed because it could preach an individual’s human rights. For example; Abu Hamza, an extremist that has been using our Human and Legal Rights system for many years to hid from the trouble that he is in, and because of our system we are unable to get rid of him because we are preaching his Human Rights. Advantages of Human Rights; Everyone is protected and respected regardless of their diversities and it also increase the confidence that the Public has on the Services. Disadvantages of Human Rights; Hard for the Public Services to work around it and also to enforce the Human Rights and make sure that they are followed correctly. Also it can go against some of the diversities beliefs.
The Public Services have tried very hard to gain people from all different diversities so that they can represent their communities and be able to have that bond that the Public feel that they can go to them with the concerns and matters happening within the community. Within the workplace all employees and employers have to respect each other’s Human Rights, as also those that they come across. It is often that people want to voice and share their opinions by protesting; although harmless the Public Services must be on standby at all time or attending the event just in case of any violence and to maintain order but still allowing them to express their views. They are also in charge of dealing with anti social behaviour and people trafficking.
The UK system although protects our Human and Legal Rights, it is sometimes shown that they miss certain things. With being one of the founders to the UN system they are often under a lot of pressure to ensure that everyone is given free education and healthcare. Although because of this system those that are actually illegal immigrants are still given the opportunity to be provided with free education. Although with so many legislations some of the small ones are often over looked. An anti discrimination legislation was overlooked once in a racial abuse case with Stephen Lawrence. A young black boy that was killed by white youth, the police did such a bad job with collecting the evidence that it was not allowed to be used in the courts. This resulting in the murderers to get away with their crime. Although despite the flaws of the system it also has been a significant benefit to the UK, allowing everyone to be rounded individuals that have been given different opportunities to ensure that they make the most of their lives, and are protected and kept from harm when needed. The Human and Legal Rights have allowed society to be a well balanced and equal environment to be in.
