Human Rights – Sections 19, 3, 4 and 10
SECTION 6 OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
6 (1) It is unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with a
Convention right
(2)
... (1) does not apply to an act if—
(a)as the result of one or more provisions of primary legislation, the authority could not
have acted differently; or
(b)in the case of one or more provisions of, or made under, primary legislation which cannot
be read or given effect in a way which is compatible with the Convention rights, the
authority was acting so as to give effect to or enforce those provisions.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACT – SECTION 19
ISSUE: The issue in this scenario is parliament trying to pass legislation which has the
potential to violate human rights so they must declare this violation which engages section
19.
ARTICULATE LEGAL 1)A Minister of the Crown in charge of a Bill in either House of
ISSUE - CONTENTS OF Parliament must, before Second Reading of the Bill—
SECTION 19 (a)make a statement to the effect that in his view the
provisions of the Bill are compatible with the Convention
rights (“a statement of compatibility”); or
(b)make a statement to the effect that although he is unable
to make a statement of compatibility the government
nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Bill.
Before either house makes a decision regarding a bill
the government has to either say the bill conforms to
human rights standards or say they are not willing to
say this conforms at this time
EXAMPLE OF SECTION The Communications Bill 2002 (now Communications Act
19 2003) - s 319 (g)
S 319 (g) - That advertising that contravenes the prohibition
on political advertising set out in section 321(2) is not included
in television or radio services
Government was unable to vouch for conformity of
human rights
Government promoted and Parliament passed the
legislation anyway
EXAMPLE OF SECTION The Illegal Migration Bill (currently before Parliament)
19 Government was unable to vouch for conformity of
, Human Rights – Sections 19, 3, 4 and 10
human rights
WHOLE POINT OF The whole point of section 19 is for:
SECTION 19 the law to force the government to confront the
dilemma that they are potentially violating human
rights
existence of section 19 makes parliament
passing a bill with violation of human rights less
likely as they have to pay political price for this,
and it is embarrassing
and this also tells people in parliament and
citizens explicitly what they are going to
support/not support so it keeps parliaments
integrity intact
THEN APPLY TO FACTS OF PROBLEM QUESTION!!!
SECTION 6 OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
6 (1) It is unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with a
Convention right
(2)
... (1) does not apply to an act if—
(a)as the result of one or more provisions of primary legislation, the authority could not
have acted differently; or
(b)in the case of one or more provisions of, or made under, primary legislation which cannot
be read or given effect in a way which is compatible with the Convention rights, the
authority was acting so as to give effect to or enforce those provisions.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACT – SECTION 19
ISSUE: The issue in this scenario is parliament trying to pass legislation which has the
potential to violate human rights so they must declare this violation which engages section
19.
ARTICULATE LEGAL 1)A Minister of the Crown in charge of a Bill in either House of
ISSUE - CONTENTS OF Parliament must, before Second Reading of the Bill—
SECTION 19 (a)make a statement to the effect that in his view the
provisions of the Bill are compatible with the Convention
rights (“a statement of compatibility”); or
(b)make a statement to the effect that although he is unable
to make a statement of compatibility the government
nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Bill.
Before either house makes a decision regarding a bill
the government has to either say the bill conforms to
human rights standards or say they are not willing to
say this conforms at this time
EXAMPLE OF SECTION The Communications Bill 2002 (now Communications Act
19 2003) - s 319 (g)
S 319 (g) - That advertising that contravenes the prohibition
on political advertising set out in section 321(2) is not included
in television or radio services
Government was unable to vouch for conformity of
human rights
Government promoted and Parliament passed the
legislation anyway
EXAMPLE OF SECTION The Illegal Migration Bill (currently before Parliament)
19 Government was unable to vouch for conformity of
, Human Rights – Sections 19, 3, 4 and 10
human rights
WHOLE POINT OF The whole point of section 19 is for:
SECTION 19 the law to force the government to confront the
dilemma that they are potentially violating human
rights
existence of section 19 makes parliament
passing a bill with violation of human rights less
likely as they have to pay political price for this,
and it is embarrassing
and this also tells people in parliament and
citizens explicitly what they are going to
support/not support so it keeps parliaments
integrity intact
THEN APPLY TO FACTS OF PROBLEM QUESTION!!!
