UK: Council of Europe's political declaration on the ECHR "weakens protections for refugees and migrants"

Commenting on the Council of Europe's political declaration on the ECHR and migration, Kerry Moscogiuri, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, said:

“It is deeply disappointing to see a UK government that pledged to remain committed to the European Convention on Human Rights now supporting efforts to weaken protections for refugees and migrants.

“Attempts to pressure courts into interpreting human rights protections in ways more politically convenient to Governments risk undermining respect for the rule of law and the fundamental principle that human rights must be universal and permanent.

“Governments across Europe may feel politically threatened by rising populism, but human rights protections exist precisely for moments like this, when fear, political pressure and scapegoating are at their height. Weakening protections for some of the most vulnerable people in Europe will not reduce the need for people to seek safety or make societies fairer or safer. It risks fuelling a damaging race to the bottom while handing victories to those who will never be satisfied until the UK leaves the Convention altogether.”