Meeting with the Joint Committee on Human Rights

I recently met (on 13 June) members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, who were in Wales for a series of meetings as part of their inquiry into the case for a Human Rights Commission in the UK.  We had an interesting a wide-ranging discussion about the potential for such a Commission and how it might affect the situation in Wales.  

The Welsh Assembly Government had already submitted written evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights last summer, when the Joint Committee first canvassed opinions.  That acknowledged that there had been little debate within Wales about whether we need a Commission or not, and about the role it might play here.  I hope that my meeting with the Joint Committee, and the other meetings they had during the day – with the Children’s Commissioner, members of the Equal Opportunities Committee, academics and others – will have helped to stimulate debate about these issues in Wales.  I was pleased to have had this opportunity to contribute to the wider discussion about the development of a human rights culture within the UK.  

I continue to keep a genuinely open mind on whether the UK needs a Human Rights Commission.  The evidence so far suggests that public authorities in Wales are aware of their responsibilities under the Human Rights Act, and continue to take steps to ensure that they comply with the Act’s requirements.  It is a measure of success that no successful cases have been taken against public authorities in Wales since full implementation of the Human Rights Act on 2 October 2000.  The National Assembly for Wales has, from its inception, had a duty to ensure that it complies with the Convention Rights in everything that it does, and it continues to provide human rights awareness training for existing and new staff to ensure that this requirement is met.  The Welsh Assembly Government has also organised events for public bodies, the voluntary sector and others, to promote a wider understanding of the Act and of the values it enshrines.  These have included a well-attended roadshow in Cardiff in April this year.  A similar event is planned for North Wales in the autumn.  

If a Human Rights Commission were to be set up, my preference would be for one body covering the whole of Great Britain, but with a distinctive and strong Welsh presence.  This would emphasise the shared nature of human rights values across Great Britain, and help to ensure a coherent approach to human rights issues.  There will, however, be some human rights issues distinctive to Wales.  These include issues relating to the Welsh language and to Welsh culture.  The development of distinctly Welsh approaches in major devolved areas such as health and education might also give rise to human rights issues specific to Wales.  A Human Rights Commission would need a Welsh arm to provide advice on these issues, and to develop strong links with other Welsh bodies such as the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the Welsh Language Board, and the National Assembly.  A distinctive Welsh presence would also be important to secure the Commission’s profile in Welsh society, and to give people in Wales a proper sense of ownership.