Human Rights Act 1998

The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which received Royal Assent on 9 November 1998, and mostly came into force on 2 October 2000. Its aim was to incorporate into UK law the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Pronunciation

Human: /ˈhjuː.mən/
Rights: /raɪts/
Act: /ækt/
1998: /ˌnaɪnˈtiːnˈnaɪntiːˈeɪt/

Etymology

The term "Human Rights Act 1998" is a descriptive name, referring to the legislation's purpose of codifying human rights law in the United Kingdom. The term "Act" is derived from the Old French acte (record), from Latin actum (a thing done), and "1998" refers to the year the Act was passed.

Related Terms

Provisions of the Act

The Act makes it unlawful for any public body to act in a way which is incompatible with the Convention, unless the wording of any other primary legislation provides no other choice. It also requires UK courts to take account of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, and to interpret legislation, as far as possible, in a way which is compatible with the Convention.

Impact of the Act

The Human Rights Act 1998 has had a significant impact on many areas of law in the UK, and has been invoked in cases involving privacy rights, discrimination, and criminal justice.

Criticism and Controversy

The Act has been controversial, with some critics arguing that it gives too much power to the judiciary and undermines the sovereignty of the UK Parliament.

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Human Rights Act 1998