Essex: Reform threatens rights and freedoms

From the archive, first published Friday 9th Mar 2007.

Human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti warned of the dangers of piecemeal constitutional reform at the annual Essex Law Lecture.

Ms Chakrabarti, director of leading human rights and civil liberties organisation Liberty, delivered the 19th annual Essex Law Lecture at Essex University.

Ms Chakrabarti was making a return visit to the university - after receiving a honorary degree last summer.

Ms Chakrabarti said: "Even ranty campaigners can get honorary degrees!

"I came last summer on a very hot day and enjoyed a wonderful graduation ceremony, and I was asked to come back for the law lecture.

"It is very nerve-racking for campaigners to come to seats of learning to talk to people who know far more than they do."

The lecture, Human Rights or "Home Grown Rights" - Fiddling While Rome Burns? reflected on the dangers of piecemeal, and maybe speedy, constitutional reform.

Ms Chakrabarti added: "This an enormous opportunity to talk about some of the challenges to human rights at the moment, and some of the suggestions that the Human Rights Act should be replaced.

"There is a real danger that permanent constitutional revolution will undermine rights and freedoms."