Human Rights and Migration Issues in Europe

A conference hosted by the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS).

Examine the origins and the scope of the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) and the European Court of Human Rights, and what are its real effects and impacts on European citizens.

The UK joined the European Convention on Human Rights, the “ECHR”, in 1951. Since 1968 the UK has accepted that the European Court of Human Rights can rule on individual cases from the UK. Under the UK’s own Human Rights Act passed in 1998, the ECHR became part of UK law. But some UK political parties are now calling for the UK to leave the ECHR, and others are calling for changes in the ECHR and in the power of the court.

These calls have often resulted from controversy about the impact of the ECHR on migration and asylum.

This conference will examine the origins and the scope of the ECHR and the court, and what are its real effects and impacts on European citizens. It will consider some of the proposals for change, and the future role of the ECHR and the court. It will also place the debate about the future of the ECHR and the court in the context of migration issues and policy, for both the UK and Europe.

The event will deal with the topic in a way which will be of value both to lawyers, and to anyone who is interested in human rights, the European context, and migration policy.

Speakers:

• Sir Tim Eicke KC: formerhttps://essexcourt.com/barrister/tim-eicke-kc/ UK nominated judge at European Court of Human Rights, 2016-2025
• Sunder Katwala: Director, British Future, a leading expert on migration policy;
• Joanna Cherry KC: leading human rights lawyer, former SNP MP;
• Chair: Sir Ian Forrester KC, last UK judge on the General Court of the European Court of Justice.

This event is sponsored by the Faculty of Advocates.