UK Parliaments Joint Committee on Human Rights Accepts RSIs Explanation of Why the Human Rights Act Should Apply Overseas
10th August 2021
On 23 June 2021, the UK Parliaments Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) released their submission to the governments Independent Human Rights Act Review, pointing to RSIs materials to explain why limiting the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) so that it no longer applies to UK actions overseas could harm the countrys international standing.
Quoting RSIs submission, the JCHR explained, at para. 177:
We also agree with evidence received from Rights and Security International, that reducing human rights protections for extraterritorial actions u201ccarries institutional risks for the UK internationallyu201d:
u201cThe implications of the change would be twofold: firstly, there would be a risk of a race to the bottom, in which other States and non-State actors likewise failed to carry out their overseas actions in a manner compliant with human rights law. In times of conflict, this could place British soldiers in danger. Second, the UKs international standing and engagement could be impacted by such a policy: as General Sir Nick Parker has recently noted, international coalition partners may be less likely to engage with the UK if it does not uphold its human rights obligations during conflict.u201d
In March 2021, RSI submitted evidence to the JCHR