Human Rights After Brexit
In June 2016, the UK voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (EU). The Commission has called for human rights and social protections to be protected in the process that has followed.
We believe that a commitment to advancing, not weakening, human rights protections must be carried forward by both the UK and Scottish Governments in whatever changes take place as a result of leaving the EU. We are particularly concerned that loss of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU will lead to gaps in protection and that removing the Charter as part of the Brexit process creates significant legal uncertainty.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (our sister National Human Rights Institution) is leading work on human rights and Brexit in relation to policy areas reserved to the UK Parliament. Their website contains more information.
For more information:
- Our briefing to the EU Justice Sub-Committee Inquiry into Rights After Brexit (May 2019)
- Our joint statement with the UK's human rights and equality bodies (June 2018)
- Our evidence to the Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee (Nov 2016)
- Our statement on protecting human rights in context of Brexit (Dec 2016)
- A paper we commissioned by Dr Tobias Lock on the human rights implications of the EU referendum (May 2016)
- Our statement on human rights implications of the EU referendum (May 2016)
- SULNE (Scottish Universities Legal Network on Europe)'s position papers on a range of issues related to human rights and social protections in context of leaving the EU (2016)
