Closed petition Do Not Leave the European Convention on Human Rights
It has been reported that the Prime Minister is considering leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to support efforts to prevent people from seeking asylum. This decision could place the rights of the British people under serious threat. We want the UK to remain part of the ECHR.
More details
Leaving the ECHR would reduce the UK's international commitments in respect of human rights. We are concerned that this could lead to changes such as the rolling back of LGBTQ rights, more deportations, and even death sentences returning.
Human Rights legalisation is already a complex field, and we want the Government to commit to not leaving the ECHR, to ensure that the UK's international commitments in respect of human rights are not reduced.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 16 June 2023
It is not currently government policy to seek withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Read the response in full
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is an international convention between the member States of the Council of Europe (CoE).
The CoE is a European organisation based in Strasbourg comprising 46 countries. It was founded in 1949 and its objectives are to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It has adopted a number of treaties aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights including, most notably, the ECHR. All members of the Council of Europe are parties to the ECHR.
Following the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, in 1950 the Council of Europe adopted the ECHR, which came into force in respect of the United Kingdom in 1953. It principally contains civil rights, including the right to life, the right to a fair trial and the right to respect for private and family life. Additional rights have been added over the years; they are contained in Protocols which are optional to States already party to the ECHR.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg is responsible for the interpretation and application of the ECHR. The duty on the UK to implement final ECtHR judgments against it is binding as a matter of international law.
It is not currently government policy to seek withdrawal from the ECHR. As such, the Government’s legislative plans allow the UK to remain party to the ECHR.
Ministry of Justice