This year’s JUSTICE Annual Human Rights Law Conference was a great success. The Rt Hon Sir Brian Leveson, President of the Queen’s Bench Division, opened the day with an exceptional call for the improvement of the criminal justice system for a modern age:
“For the last 50 years, we have successively bolted on new procedures to an old fashioned framework and must recognise that this hotchpotch of new and old is simply not an effective long‐term solution to the problems we face in the digital age that is the 21st century.”
With over 150 participants and exceptional speakers from across the professions, the judiciary and representatives of the major political parties, we looked at key developments over the last year and asked ‘What next for human rights?’
Nathalie Lieven QC opened the end of day discussion, with an excellent analysis on why the common law can’t act as a substitute for the Human Rights Act 1998. An exceptional end of day panel including Harriet Harman MP, Joanna Cherry QC MP and Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC drew the day to a close with lively speculation over the Government’s plans for reform.
For coverage of the day’s events see #JHRC15 on Twitter or read a report of the end of day discussion in the Guardian.
Read more about JUSTICE’s work on the HRA 1998 and the Bill of Rights debate.
Electronic copies of speaker papers and PowerPoints are available below: