Regional Equality & Diversity Partnership

The Human Rights Act 2000

The Human Rights Act introduces into UK law the rights and freedoms set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. It mostly came into force on 2nd October 2000.

Individuals who believe their human rights have been unreasonably interfered with can now bring human rights cases in UK courts. (Previously, where our domestic law did not sufficiently protect a person’s human rights, cases had to be taken to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.)

The Human Rights Act applies to all public authorities, such as central and local government bodies, the police, hospitals and prisons.

A link to the legislation can be found here.

All pages in this section:

• Sex Discrimination Act 1975
• Race Relations Act 1976
• The Race Relations Amendment 2000
• The Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (Sexual Orientation)
• The Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (Religion/Belief)
• The Disability Discrimination Act
• The Equality Bill
• The Human Rights Act 2000
• Equality Act 2006
• Equality Act 2010