In support of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) 

On the 75^th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), we stand with almost 300 other organisations and groups in the UK in support of the ECHR, and we call on politicians and government to end the scapegoating of human rights. 

At Seraphus we are not just proud to join all these hundreds of organisations as signatories to the statement presented by Liberty. We think it is the most obvious and fundamental message to support – everyone benefits when we have protected human rights. 

Despite this, the ECHR and Human Rights Act (HRA) in the UK have been criticised by politicians and media over several years. Recently, this has materialised in threats (or promises) to leave the ECHR, with claims that this would fix policy issues in the UK in particular, issues related to migration and asylum. 

While politicians can present this step as a “simple” and “easy” campaign promise that will fix policy issues, as we have covered extensively, issues of failing asylum and migration policies will not be resolved by leaving a human rights framework as essential as the ECHR, nor by ignoring the rights of migrants in the UK.

As an immigration law firm, we care deeply about the rights of migrants and people seeking asylum in the UK, but these rights are not separate entities separate from the rights that allow any other residents of the UK to live their lives in dignity and be free from harm. 

Instead of using human rights as a scapegoat, our politicians should emphasise that these rights are not an obstacle to be rid of, but the backbone of our democracy and act accordingly.