On 9 September 2010, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) announced its decision to continue to scrutinise every Government bill for its compatibility with human rights. Following the publication of the Government’s Legislative Programme for 2010-11, the Committee has provisionally identified 10 bills and one draft bill which it considers are likely to raise significant human rights issues: * Identity Documents Bill * Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Bill * Freedom Bill * Armed Forces Bill * Education and Children Bill * Health Bill * Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill * Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill * Public Bodies (Reform) Bill * Welfare Reform Bill * Parliamentary Privilege draft bill The Committee proposes to focus its legislative scrutiny work principally on these bills during the current parliamentary session. Submissions of no more than 1,500 words are invited from interested groups and individuals on: * The significant human rights issues likely to be raised by each bill * Whether the bill presents opportunities to enhance the protection of human rights. Submissions should reach the Committee by 8 October 2010 and be addressed to the Commons Clerk of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Committee Office, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA (email: jchr@parliament.uk). Electronic submission in Word or Rich Text format is requested, but a signed hard copy should also be sent. On 9 September, the JCHR also announced its decision to continue the practice of its predecessors in reviewing the Government’s response to adverse human rights judgments by both UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights and is actively seeking to encourage more input from civil society into its human rights judgments work. The Committee would welcome submissions from outside individuals or organisations in relation to: * the Government’s response to Enhancing Parliament’s role in relation to human rights judgments; * any of the cases considered in the Committee’s last Report, including any updated information provided by the UK to the Committee of Ministers; * any cases which have become final since January 2010, where the European Court of Human Rights has found a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights by the UK or where a declaration of incompatibility has been made by a UK court. Submissions should reach the Committee by 22 October 2010 and be addressed to the Commons Clerk of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, details as above. Click here for JRCH website For enquiries telephone 020 7219 2467 or email jchr@parliament.uk http://www.edf.org.uk/blog/?p=7465