UK Act of Parliament 1998 United Kingdom

Human Rights Act 1998

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Enforced by
RQIA, EHRC
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Regulated

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Plus 10 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

s.002 Interpretation of Convention rights. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Courts and tribunals must take into account European human rights case lawTribunal / Court
s.006 Acts of public authorities. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Public authorities must act compatibly with Convention rightsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.012 Freedom of expression. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Courts must uphold freedom of expression before granting publication injunctionsTribunal / Court
s.013 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Court must give particular regard to religious freedom in HRA casesTribunal / Court
s.015 Reservations. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must amend the Human Rights Act to reflect reservation changesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.017 Periodic review of designated reservations. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Minister must periodically review designated reservations and report to ParliamentCrown / Minister / Government department
s.019 Statements of compatibility. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Minister must make and publish statement of compatibility before Second ReadingCrown / Minister / Government department
16 other provisions — procedural and definitional
s.001 The Convention Rights. (opens in a new tab)
s.003 Interpretation of legislation. (opens in a new tab)
s.004 Declaration of incompatibility. (opens in a new tab)
s.005 Right of Crown to intervene. (opens in a new tab)
s.007 Proceedings. (opens in a new tab)
s.007 Limitation: overseas armed forces proceedings
s.008 Judicial remedies. (opens in a new tab)
s.009 Judicial acts. (opens in a new tab)
s.010 Power to take remedial action. (opens in a new tab)
s.011 Safeguard for existing human rights. (opens in a new tab)
s.014 Derogations. (opens in a new tab)
s.016 Period for which designated derogations have effect. (opens in a new tab)
s.018 Appointment to European Court of Human Rights. (opens in a new tab)
s.020 Orders (opens in a new tab)
s.021 Interpretation, etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.022 Short title, commencement, application and extent. (opens in a new tab)
Schedules

Schedules

3 of 20 shown
s.sch002 (1) No draft may be laid under paragraph 2(a) unless—... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Minister must lay remedial order draft before Parliament and wait 60 daysCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch002 (1) If a remedial order (“the original order”) is made... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Minister must lay remedial orders before Parliament and report on representationsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch004 (1) The appropriate Minister must by order make provision with... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Appropriate Minister must make pension orders for ECHR judgesCrown / Minister / Government department
17 other schedules
s.sch001 Everyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or...
s.sch001 Everyone who has been the victim of arrest or detention...
s.sch002 (1) A remedial order may— (a) contain such incidental, supplemental,...
s.sch002 No remedial order may be made unless—
s.sch002 In this Schedule— “representations” means representations about a remedial order...
s.sch002 In calculating any period for the purposes of this Schedule,...
s.sch002 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to–
s.sch003 The United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe...
s.sch004 A pensions order may, in particular, make provision—
s.sch004 A pensions order may amend any provision of, or made...
s.sch004 In this Schedule— “appropriate Minister” means— in relation to any...
s.schedule/1/part/3/paragraph/wrapper1n2 The death penalty shall be abolished. No one shall be...
s.schedule/3/part/i/crossheading/united/kingdoms/der Public emergency in the United Kingdom
s.schedule/3/part/i/crossheading/united/kingdoms/der The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
s.schedule/3/part/i/crossheading/united/kingdoms/der Domestic law powers of detention (other than under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001)
s.schedule/3/part/i/crossheading/united/kingdoms/der Article 5(1)(f) of the Convention
s.schedule/3/part/i/crossheading/united/kingdoms/der Derogation under Article 15 of the Convention

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.