Almost 300 Organisations Rally to Defend Human Rights on 75th Anniversary of ECHR

BID has joined nearly 300 organisations in issuing a statement in support of the UK’s human rights protections, marking the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). 

Organised by Liberty and other NGOs, the statement highlights concerns about the politicisation of human rights in recent years, noting that the ECHR and the Human Rights Act (HRA) have been used as a scapegoat with “devastating real-world consequences.” 

The ECHR, signed on 4 November 1950, has helped improve human rights across Europe, contributed to the elimination of the death penalty among signatories, supported cross-border cooperation on issues such as crime and human trafficking, and played a role in securing peace in Northern Ireland through the Good Friday Agreement. 

The statement warns that leaving the ECHR would not address challenges such as asylum backlogs or Channel crossings, but would create legal uncertainty, undermine the UK’s international position, and harm vulnerable communities. 

It calls on politicians to stop using human rights as a scapegoat and urges the government, whose predecessors drafted the HRA, to make the positive case for the ECHR and Human Rights Act. 

The full statement and the list of 292 signatories are included below. 

Full statement: 

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is fundamental to our democracy and enables ordinary people, of all backgrounds, to hold the state and public bodies accountable. These rights are needed more than ever in an unstable world, with growing political polarisation and authoritarianism, environmental instability and technological upheaval, to ensure the dignity of us all. 

The ECHR was born out of the horrors of World War II, with the UK playing a leading role, setting minimum standards which governments across Europe agreed to abide by. This has improved respect for human rights across Europe (no signatory has used the death penalty for 25 years) and facilitated cross-border cooperation on issues of joint interest, like crime and human trafficking. 

In the UK, the ECHR and the Human Rights Act (HRA) have protected the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country; from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients and victims of serious injustice (from Hillsborough to Windrush). 

The ECHR helped bring peace finally in Northern Ireland, through the Good Friday Agreement, and has improved the quality of public services. We reject the narrative that human rights are not in the interests of the public – everyone in our society would be much worse off without these key protections. 

In recent months, following a trend established over several years, the ECHR and HRA have increasingly come under fire from some leading politicians and media organisations. This has often been based on myths, over-simplifications, inaccuracies, and scaremongering, particularly around migration. Leaving the ECHR would not solve policy problems like the backlog of asylum cases, or people risking their lives through Channel crossings, but would bring about years of legal uncertainty, undermine our international position, and cause harm to the rights of both migrants in the UK and our wider communities. 

We call on politicians to stop using our human rights as a scapegoat, level with the British public about the significant costs of ECHR withdrawal (such as the impact on the Good Friday Agreement) and end the escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences for people who are often already made vulnerable by wider social and economic marginalisation and stigmatisation. 

We also call on the Government, whose party predecessors were architects of the HRA, to make the positive case for our human rights protections and how they empower ordinary people across the UK. It is an important part of our country’s safety net, not an inconvenience which must be tolerated. Its rights are common-sense, pragmatic protections which improve services at home and increase international cooperation abroad. 

Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the ECHR and HRA. No one has human rights, unless we all have human rights. 

Signatories 

Abortion Rights, Kerry Abel, Chair 
Access Social Care, Kari Gerstheimer, CEO 
ACH, Fuad Mahamed, CEO 
ACS Visas, Tariq Nawaz, Principal 
Action on Armed Violence, Iain Overton, Chief Executive 
Advicenow, Dr Lisa Wintersteiger, CEO 
Advocacy Focus, Justine Forster, CEO 
African Rainbow Family, Aderonke Apata, Founder and CEO 
Age Scotland, Katherine Crawford, CEO 
Alcohol Focus Scotland, Alison Douglas, Chief Executive 
Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre, Mariam Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer 
Amnesty International UK, Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive 
Another Europe is Possible, Alena Ivanova, Campaigns Lead 
Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, Victoria Marks, Director 
Apex Law, Wajid H Immigration Lawyer 
ARC England, Samantha Leonard, Director 
ARGH Scotland, Kabie Brook, Chairperson 
Armazi, Peyman Zonouzi, Director 
Art27 Scotland, Helen Trew, CEO/Director 
ARTICLE 19, Quinn McKew, Executive Director 
Asha North Staffordshire, Darcy Crook, Volunteer and Befriending Coordinator 
Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID), Gee Manoharan, Director 
Asylum Aid, Piya Muqit, Executive Director 
Asylum Support Appeals Project , Kat Lorenz, Director 
Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO, Suzanne Slavin, Chief Executive Officer 
Baca Charity, Anya Hulley, Community Engagement & Communications 
Bail for Immigration Detainees, Charlotte Buckley, Director 
Baptist Union of Great Britain, Revd. Diane Watts, Faith & Society Team Leader 
BARAC UK, Zita Holbourne, Co-founder / National Chair 
Barrow Cadbury Trust, Asif Afridi, CEO 
Become, Clare Bracey, Interim CEO 
BEMIS, Danny Boyle, Executive Director 
Ben & Jerry’s UK, Mathilda Della Torre, UK Activism Manager 
Best for Britain, Naomi Smith, CEO 
Big Leaf Foundation, Vicki Felgate, Chair of Trustees 
Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, Maureen Connolly, CEO 
Birnberg Peirce Ltd, Nigel Leskin, Director 
Birthrights, Tracey Fletcher, Interim CEO 
Black South West Network, Sado Jirde, Director 
BRASS, Brian Cunningham, Director 
Breakout Youth, Zoe Grant, CEO 
Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard, Rob Sainsbury Chief Executive Officer 
The Brigstowe Project, Rami Ghali, CEO 
Bristol Law Centre, Karen Bowers, CEO 
Bristol Mind, Emma Brech, CEO 
Bristol Women’s Voice, Katy Taylor, CEO 
British Association of Social Workers, Professor Sam Baron, Interim Chief Executive 
The British Institute of Human Rights, Sanchita Hosali, CEO 
Campaign for Freedom of Information, Maurice Frankel, Director 
The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland, Carole Ewart, Director 
CARAS, Eleanor Brown, CEO 
Care Rights UK, Helen Wildbore, CEO 
Care4Calais, Steve Smith, CEO 
C-Change Scotland, Sam Smith, CEO 
Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights, Mark Lattimer, Executive Director 
CEMVO Scotland, Francesca Malila, Human Rights & Race Equality Officer 
Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC), Dr Eman Hani, CEO 
Centre for Military Justice, Emma Norton, Director 
Centre for Women’s Justice, Harriet Wistrich, CEO 
The Centre Place / LGBT+ Service Nottinghamshire, Georgia Crossland, CEO 
Children and Families Across Borders, Carolyn Housman, CEO 
Children First, Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive 
Children’s Law Centre, John O’Doherty, Chief Executive Officer 
Children’s Health Scotland, Helen Forrest, Chief Executive 
Citizens Advice Ipswich, Nicky Willshere, CEO 
Citizens Advice Newcastle, Hannah Cooper, Research and Campaigns Manager 
City of Edinburgh Council Green Group, Cllr Claire Miller, Equalities Spokesperson 
City of Sanctuary UK, Sian Summers-Rees, CO 
CIVIUM, Nina Zonouzi, Director 
Community House Eton Road, Sarah Miller, Development Manager 
Community Transport Association, David Kelly, Head of Policy & Campaigns 
Compassion in Politics, Jennifer Nadel, CEO 
Constructing Rainbows Ltd, Sharon Slinger, Director 
Corra Foundation, Shelley Gray, Head of Policy and Communications 
Cycling UK, Sarah McMonagle, Director of External Affairs 
Cytun Churches Together in Wales, Dr Cynan Llwyd, General Secretary 
Dates-n-Mates, Fiona Kyle, National Lead 
Defend Digital Me, Jen Persson, Director 
Detention Action, Lochlinn Parker, Interim Director 
Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS), Alex Vessis, CEO 
DFN Project SEARCH, Ms Courtney Bruner, Country Lead: Scotland, Wales, Ireland, NI and Iberia 
Disability Action, Nuala Toman, Head of Accessibility 
Disabled Greens, Kit Renard, Co-Convener 
Discrimination Law Association (DLA), Nicola Redhead, Chair 
Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service, Pamela Deans, Chief Executive 
Dyslexia Scotland, Cathy Magee, Chief Executive 
East Ayrshire Advocacy Services, Neill Clark, CEO 
ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking), Patricia Durr, CEO 
Edinburgh Development Group, Maureen Martin, CEO 
Empower Women for Change, Asma Abdalla, CEO 
End Violence Against Women Coalition, Andrea Simon, Executive Director 
Engender, Catherine Murphy, Executive Director 
English PEN, Daniel Gorman, Director 
Equality and Employment Law Centre, Julie Ehlen, CEO 
Equality Network, Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO 
Equally Ours, Ali Harris, CEO 
Fable, Tom Newman, Owner 
Fair Play South West, the Women’s Equality Network, Jackie Longworth, Chair 
Fair Vote UK, Kyle Taylor, Founder and Director 
Fawcett Society, Penny East, Chief Executive 
FFLAG, Des Johnson, Trustee 
Freedom from Torture, Sonya Sceats, Chief Executive 
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Asad Rehman, Chief Executive 
Friends, Families and Travellers, Sarah Mann, CEO 
Galop, Ben Kernighan & Jasmine O’Connor, Co-CEOs 
Gaydio, Ian Wallace, Business Director 
Gendered Intelligence, Jay Stewart, CEO 
Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector, Ian Bruce, Chief Officer 
Global Justice Now, Nick Dearden, Director 
Global Link, Gisela Renolds, Executive Director 
Gold Jennings, Salima Budhani, Director 
Good Chance Theatre, Naomi Popli, Executive Director 
Govan Community Project, Traci Kirkland, Head of Charity 
Greater Manchester Law Centre, Jason Tetley, Director 
GSN Immigration Ltd, Syed Zaib Shah, Director 
Hackney Community Law Centre, Sean Canning, Solicitor 
Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre, Sara Taylor, CEO 
The Harbour Project, Tom Bain, CEO 
Haringey Welcome, Lucy Nabijou, Chair 
Harrow Law Centre, Pamela Fitzpatrick Director 
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), Lucy Mulvagh, Director of Policy, Research and Impact 
Helen Bamber Foundation, Alison Pickup, CEO 
Hibiscus, Baljit Banga, CEO 
The Hong Kong Scots CIC, Daniel Tsz Kin KWOK, First Director 
Hope for Justice, Tim Nelson, CEO 
Hope for the Young, Hannah Greenwood, Fundraising and Communications Manager 
Human Rights Consortium, Kevin Hanratty, Director 
Human Rights Consortium Cymru, Ele Hicks, Project Manager 
Human Rights Consortium Scotland (HRCS), Charlie McMillan, Director 
Human Rights Watch, Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director 
Humanist Society Scotland, Fraser Sutherland, CEO 
Humanists UK, Andrew Copson, Chief Executive 
IKWRO, Diana Nammi, Executive Director 
Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA), Zoe Bantleman, Legal Director 
Improvement Service Scotland, Adrian Flegg, Human Rights Project Manager 
In Control Scotland, Pauline Lunn, Director 
Inclusion London, Svetlana Kotova, Director of Campaigns & Justice 
Inclusion Scotland, Heather Fisken, CEO 
INQUEST, Deborah Coles, Executive Director 
Institute for Constitutional and Democratic Research, Sam Fowles, Director 
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Emily Foale, Programme Lawyer 
International Rescue Committee UK, Denisa Delic, Director of Advocacy 
Ipswich Romanian Community, Romeo Mustata, CEO 
Jesuit Refugee Service UK, David Ryall, Director 
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Rose Bernstein, Interim Executive Director 
Just Fair, Jess McQuail, Director 
Just for Kids Law, including the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, Louise King, Co-lead and Director 
JUSTICE, Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive 
JustRight Scotland, Emma Hutton, CEO 
Karma Nirvana, Natasha Rattu, CEO 
Lancashire LGBT, Dr Lewis Turner, Chief Executive 
Latin American Women’s Aid – LAWA, Angie Herrera, Director 
Latin American Women’s Rights Service, Gisela Valle, Executive Director 
Laura Devine Immigration, Ludovica Bello, Solicitor 
Law Centre NI, Eddie Lynch, CEO 
Law Centres Network, Julie Bishop, Director 
Learning Disability England, Tim Kielty, Member Representative Co Chair 
LEF, Matthew Smerdon, CEO 
Legal Aid Practitioners Group, Chris Minnoch, CEO 
LGBT HERO, Ian Howley, Chief Executive 
LGBT Youth Scotland, Dr Mhairi Crawford, CEO 
LGBT+ Consortium, Paul Roberts OBE, Chief Executive 
Liberty, Akiko Hart, Director 
London Friend, Monty Moncrieff MBE, Chief Executive 
London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, Bisila Noha, CEO 
Making Rights Real, Clare MacGillivray, Director 
Manchester Migrant Solidarity, Aderonke Apata, Founder and Chairperson 
Meeting Centres Scotland, Graham Galloway, CEO 
Mermaids, Kathryn Downs, CEO 
The Methodist Church in Britain, Revd Richard Andrew, President of the Methodist Conference 
Migrant Voice, Nazek Ramadan, CEO 
Migrants’ Rights Network, Fizza Qureshi, CEO 
Mind, Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive 
Minority Rights Group International, Carl Soderbergh, Director of Policy & Advocacy 
Muslim Association of Britain, Raghad Altikriti, Chair 
The National Autistic Taskforce, Yo Dunn, Strategic Lead 
Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol), Kevin Blowe, Campaigns & Media Coordinator 
New Prospects Association, Tim Keilty, CEO 
Next Chapter Scotland, Eppie Sprung, CEO 
Norfolk Community Law Service, David Powles, Chief Executive 
North Bristol Advice Centre, Katherine Tanko, Director 
North Kensington Law Centre, Franck Kiangala, Director & Solicitor 
North Wales Regional Equality Network, Robert Moore, Company Secretary 
North West London Law Centres, Sean Canning, Director 
North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre, Carol Shreeve, CEO 
Not1More, Justine Taylor, Director 
Oasis, Susie Ventris-Field, CEO 
Olton Friary Justice & Peace Group, Helena Madden, Group Organiser 
Open Rights Group, Jim Killock, Executive Director 
Open Spaces Society, Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary 
OTR Bristol, Amanda Edwards, CEO 
Outside the Box, Angela Ross, Company Secretary 
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Ben Jamal, Director 
Parents Advocacy & Rights (PAR), Taliah Drayak, CoDevelopment Officer 
The Paristamen Charity, Prof Gareth Morgan, Chair of Trustees 
Parkinson’s UK, Laura Cockram, Head of Campaigns 
Participation and the Practice of Rights, Chloë Trew, Director 
Peace Brigades International (PBI) UK, Ben Leather, Director 
Playing Out CIC, Ingrid Skeels, Co-founder 
Plus Importance Project, Matt Humberstone, Founder 
Project 17, Abi Brunswick, Director 
Praxis, Minnie Rahman, CEO 
Prisoners’ Advice Service, Lubia Begum-Rob, Director 
Proud Futures, Ellis and Lou Beardsmore, Co-CEOs 
Public Interest Law Centre, Jean Demars, Director 
Public Law Project, Jamie Peters, Interim CEO 
The Pyramid at Anderston, Ailsa MacKenzie, Chief Officer 
Quakers in Britain, Paul Parker, Recording Clerk 
Race Equality First, Aliya Mohammed, CEO 
Race Equality Foundation, Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive 
The Rainbow Project, Scott Cuthbertson, CEO 
RAIS Lancaster, Caitlin Luna, Operations Manager 
RAMFEL (Refugee & Migrant Forum of Essex and London), James Tullet, Chief Executive 
RealisingRights, Edward Waller, Human Rights Consultant 
Reclaim the Agenda, Danielle Roberts Communications and Sustainability Coordinator 
Refuge, Gemma Sherrington, CEO 
Refugee Action, Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive 
Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, CEO 
Refugee Support Devon, Susanna Revolti, CEO 
Refugee Welcome Homes, Jess Davidson-Egan, Director 
René Cassin, Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director 
Respect, Jo Todd CBE, CEO 
Reunite Families UK, Caroline Coombs, Executive Director 
Right to Remain, Eiri Ohtani, Director 
Rights for Peace, Mariana Goetz, Director 
Rights of Women, Estelle du Boulay, Director 
Runnymede Trust, Shabna Begum, CEO 
Safe Passage International, Gunes Kalkan, Head of Campaigns & Communications 
SafeLives, Liz Thompson, Director of External Relations 
Scottish Care, Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive 
Scottish Child Law Centre, Jamie Speirs, Senior Solicitor 
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Suzanne Swinton, CEO 
Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, Mark Hazelwood, CEO 
Scottish Women’s Aid, Marsha Scott, CEO 
Screen Share, Moses Seitler, CEO 
SCVO, Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive 
Secure Scotland, Janet Fenton, Organiser 
Seraphus, Christopher Desira, Director 
Settled, Kate Smart, CEO 
Shaman PR, Mona Adam, Founder and Director 
Sheffield Citizens Advice & Law Centre, Sylvia Ward, CEO 
Shelter, Sarah Elliott, CEO 
Shelter Scotland, Alison Watson, Director 
SMK Law Solicitors, Shoaib M Khan, Human Rights Lawyer 
Social Benefits Consortium CIC, Sandra Beeton, CEO 
Solace, Nahar Choudhury, CEO 
South Bristol Advice Services, Fran Begley, CEO 
South Wales Law Centre, Warren Palmer, Centre Director 
South West London Law Centres, Paul Keeley, Solicitor 
Southall Black Sisters (SBS), Selma Taha, Executive Director 
Southern England Law Centre, Olivia Pulley-Crowther, Managing Director and Senior Solicitor 
Southwark Law Centre, Stacey Edgar, Executive Director 
Space Youth Project, Helen Walsh, CEO 
Spectra, Joel Robinson, CEO 
Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace & Justice, Yvonne Schofield, Campaign Director 
Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI), Alex Raikes MBE DL, Chief Executive 
Stand For All, Daniel Sohege, Director 
Statewatch, Chris Jones, Executive Director 
Stay Safe East, Angie Airlie, CEO 
Streets Kitchen, Elodie Berland, CoDirector/Coordinator 
Suffolk Law Centre, Sue Wardell, Director of Operations and Development 
Suffolk Refugee Support, Rebecca Crerar, Charity Manager 
Swansea City of Sanctuary, Tom Avery, Chair of Trustees 
Swansea Women’s Asylum and Refugee Support Group, Dr Jeni Williams, Chair 
the3million, Andreea Dumitrache, CEO 
Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) , Juliet Harris, Director 
Trans in the City, Bobbi Pickard, CEO 
Trans Media Watch, jane fae, Chair 
Trauma Foundation South West, Katherine Cox, Director of Services 
The Traveller Movement, Yvonne MacNamara, CEO 
Trinity Community Arts Ltd, Emma Harvey, CEO 
Union Romani Voice, Simona Lazar, CEO 
United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK), Jane Kinninmont, CEO 
The United Reformed Church, Catriona Wheeler, Moderator of the General Assembly 
Uniting Church Sketty, Louise Gough, Minister 
Unlock Democracy, Tom Brake, Director 
Visa and Immigration Services Capital, Mohammed Ali, Founder 
Visa Positive, Fayyaz Chopdat, Founder and immigration adviser 
WCVA, Dr. Lindsay Cordery-Bruce, CEO 
Welfare Scotland, Rob McDowall, Chair 
Welsh Women’s Aid, Sara Kirkpatrick, CEO 
West London Queer Project, Aubrey Crawley, Founder & CEO 
WILPF UK, Paula Shaw, Director 
WISH, Alexandra Phillips, Chair 
Women for Refugee Women, Andrea Vukovic, Co-Director 
Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire, Heather Russell, CEO 
Women’s Budget Group, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director 
Work Rights Centre, Luke Piper, Head of Immigration 
Worker Support Centre, Caroline Robinson, Executive Director 
Yoker Community Campus Development Company, Douglas Taylor, General Manager 
17-24-30 National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Mark Healey, Founder CEO 
1st Citizen Lawyer, Fraz Wahlah, Director