Human Rights Act 1998

In brief

Gives further effect to the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in UK domestic law. Public authorities must act compatibly with Convention rights. Key provisions include Article 8 (private and family life), Article 9 (thought, conscience and religion), Article 10 (expression), and Article 14 (non-discrimination in the enjoyment of Convention rights).

Key provisions

• Article 8 — Right to respect for private and family life: Right to respect for private and family life. Protects personal autonomy, identity, and the right to live free from unjustified interference by public authorities.
• Article 9 — Freedom of thought, conscience and religion: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Protects the right to hold beliefs and to manifest them in worship, teaching, practice, and observance.
• Article 10 — Freedom of expression: Freedom of expression. Protects the right to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.
• Article 14 — Prohibition of discrimination: Prohibition of discrimination in the enjoyment of Convention rights. Not a standalone right — must be engaged alongside another Convention right (typically Article 8 or Article 9).
• s.3 — Interpretation of legislation compatible with Convention rights: Requires courts to read and give effect to legislation in a way compatible with Convention rights, so far as it is possible to do so.
• s.6 — Acts of public authorities: Makes it unlawful for a public authority to act in a way incompatible with a Convention right, unless required to do so by primary legislation.

When relevant

Balancing competing rights: trans people's Article 8 privacy rights vs colleagues' Article 9/10 belief and expression rights. The proportionality framework underpins single-sex exception decisions and workplace policy design.