What impact has Brexit had on the UK's human rights policies?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (EU) through the Brexit referendum has had a significant impact on the country's human rights policies. Prior to Brexit, the UK was bound by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which set out the rights and freedoms of EU citizens. The Charter had been incorporated into UK law through the Human Rights Act of 1998 and had provided additional protection to UK citizens.

However, after Brexit, the Charter no longer applies in the UK, and the country's human rights policies are solely governed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The ECHR is an international treaty, not an EU law, and it sets out basic human rights and freedoms that must be protected by the signatory states.

Although the UK government has indicated that it will continue to respect human rights after Brexit, some critics have expressed concerns that the country's withdrawal from the EU could lead to a weakening of human rights protections in the country. For example, Brexit could potentially make it more difficult for UK citizens to challenge human rights violations that may arise from EU laws or policies.

In summary, Brexit has led to a significant change in the UK's human rights policies. While the government has pledged to maintain its commitment to human rights, it remains to be seen how this will play out in practice and what implications it will have for UK citizens.