What is European Convention on Human Rights?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said she is “encouraged” by “constructive” discussions with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) about the injunction that halted migrant flights to Rwanda.
A government source said any change to the injunction “would remove a key barrier to getting flights off the ground”.
But the ECHR, which granted an injunction via its Rule 39 in 2022, has not commented on any discussions.
Earlier this year, Rishi Sunak said he would try to withdraw from the UK if European judges ruled unlawful plans to stop illegal migrants from claiming asylum in the UK.
However, No 10 later clarified that the Government would comply with its obligations under international law.
Official estimates suggested 65,000 illegal migrants are expected to arrive in the UK this year via the Channel compared with the 45,000 who did so in 2022.
But what is the ECHR? Here’s what you need to know.
What is the European Convention on Human Rights?
The ECHR is a treaty that established the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) as a supranational court of appeal for cases to be heard when they have gone as far as they can in domestic courts. It took effect in 1953 and the ECtHR was set up in 1959. It rules on individual or state applications alleging violations of the civil and political rights set out in the convention. Since 1998 it has sat as a full-time court and individuals can apply to it directly.
Over more than 60 years, the court has delivered more than 10,000 judgments, which are binding on the countries concerned, leading governments to alter their legislation and administrative practices in a wide range of areas.
The ECtHR’s case law makes the convention a powerful instrument for meeting new challenges and consolidating the rule of law and democracy in Europe.
The court is based in Strasbourg, in the Human Rights Building designed by the British architect Richard Rogers in 1994 – a building whose image is known worldwide. From here, it monitors respect for the human rights of 700 million Europeans in the 46 Council of Europe member states that have ratified the Convention.
What would leaving the ECHR mean?
The Conservative Party has had a long history of disagreement with the Strasbourg court and has on numerous occasions not ruled out leaving it.
In 2013, Theresa May said that all options remained on the table to deal with the court’s interpretation of human rights but the UK remained a member.
Mr Raab sought to circumvent the court using a new bill of rights, rather than simply exiting the body.
The government said a British bill of rights will make plain that ECtHR judgments, including such interim measures, are not binding on UK courts. Many lawyers argue this is a red herring. The website of the supreme court says UK courts must “take account” of the Strasbourg court but can decline to follow its rulings.
If the bill of rights is introduced, other benefits include making it easier to deport foreign criminals by restricting the circumstances in which their right to family life would trump public safety and the need to remove them.
