To mark Human Rights Day, Humanists UK along with 144 charities and campaigning organisations has signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Theresa May calling on the Government to protect universal human rights standards. Humanists UK is firmly committed to the promotion of human rights and equality, and opposes any dilution of protections which might occur during or after the Brexit process.

The joint letter, coordinated by the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), demands that the same legal protections for human rights remain in place after the UK leaves the European Union (EU). It raises concerns that the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, currently being debated in Parliament, won’t transpose the European Charter of Fundamental Rights into UK law, and that the Government will return to plans to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998. These plans are currently on hold during the process of leaving the EU.

Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, ‘Our fundamental freedoms, such as the freedom to hold or not hold religious beliefs, were written down after the Second World War in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but only realised for UK citizens through the Human Rights Act and European Charter of Fundamental Rights. As the UK leaves the EU, we call upon Theresa May to guarantee that UK citizens will not lose access to rights currently protected by the EU Charter. This would be best achieved by directly transposing the charter into UK law before our departure.’

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For further comment or information contact Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at richy@humanism.org.uk or 020 7324 3072.

Read a copy of the joint letter here: https://www.bihr.org.uk/together

Read more about our campaign work on human rights and equality: https://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/human-rights-and-equality/

At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.

Humanists UK recently changed its name from the British Humanist Association: https://humanism.org.uk/2017/05/22/bha-becomes-humanists-uk/