Together and CRAE respond to House of Lords inquiry on rights after Brexit

Date: 18th April 2019
Category:

17.jpg

Together and the Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) have submitted a joint response to the House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee inquiry on rights after Brexit. 

The inquiry, launched in March 2019, examines the future framework and potential risks to rights after Brexit. In particular, the Sub-Committee is considering the impact of the loss of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the way in which any future agreement between the UK and the EU will reflect rights standards. 

Together and CRAE's joint submission focuses on the impact of the loss of the Charter on children and young people's rights. It notes that the Charter enshrines and enhances rights for children which exist in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It notes, however, that these rights are not always protected in domestic law at constitutional level. Accordingly, the loss of the Charter may result in a reduction in rights protections. 

The joint submission emphasises that the loss of the Charter only increases the importance of both maintaining the Human Rights Act and also directly incorporating the UNCRC into UK and Scots law, in the interest of ensuring that children and young people's rights are fully protected after Brexit. 

The inquiry remains open, and written submissions can be made by contacting the EU Justice Sub-Committee.