Committee news

New inquiry: Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England
Out of nearly 12 million children living in England, over 400,000 are in the social care system at any one time. Out of these, nearly 84,000 children in England are “in care” (i.e. being looked after by local authorities).
15 July 2025

Child sexual abuse mandatory reporting duty lacks teeth – JCHR report warns
Without stronger penalties for failing to act, a new duty to report child sexual abuse may fail to have an impact, the Joint Committee on Human Rights has warned. Following legislative scrutiny of the Crime and Policing Bill, the Committee has proposed a number of amendments to the bill to ensure it better aligns with the UK’s human rights obligations.
14 July 2025

Tighten Border Security Bill to punish the perpetrators not the victims – JCHR report warns
Following legislative scrutiny, the Joint Committee on Human Rights has called on the Government to make amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
20 June 2025

Mental Health Bill reforms welcome but should go further – JCHR finds
In a report published today following legislative scrutiny, the Joint Committee on Human Rights proposed amendments to the Mental Health Bill.
19 May 2025

Daesh fighters must not escape British justice – JCHR report warns
Daesh is a non-state terrorist organisation that emerged in Iraq in the early 2000s. Its campaigns of terror, murder and rape targeted religious groups, including the Yazidis, with the aim of destroying their identities.
13 May 2025

Justice Secretary questioned on Government’s approach to human rights
The Joint Committee on Human Rights will question Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood MP, on Wednesday 30 April in a wide-ranging session examining prominent human rights issues.
28 April 2025

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, National Crime Agency and Border Force questioned on forced labour in UK supply chains
The Joint Committee on Human Rights continues its inquiry into forced labour in UK supply chains on Wednesday 23 April when it takes evidence from Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Eleanor Lyons and senior officials in Border Force and the National Crime Agency.
22 April 2025

Attorney General questioned on Government’s human rights priorities
The Joint Committee on Human Rights will question the Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC on the work of the Attorney General’s Office.
31 March 2025

Call for evidence: Legislative Scrutiny of Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued a call for evidence for a new inquiry conducting legislative scrutiny of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
17 March 2025

Transnational repression: Chloe Cheung and Hossein Abedini evidence sets out risks faced by activists in UK
The session highlighted the risks faced by activists in the UK from hostile actions by foreign governments.
13 March 2025

Government responds to Human Rights Committee ‘Hillsborough Law’ report
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has published the Government’s response to its report into proposals for a ‘Hillsborough law’.
3 March 2025

Report: Proposal for a Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2024
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 was introduced to address the legacy of the Troubles and promote reconciliation.
28 February 2025

Committee writes to Home Secretary for update on missing asylum-seeking children
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has written to the Home Secretary, The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, with questions on the treatment of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the UK
30 January 2025

New inquiry: Transnational repression in the UK
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has launched a new inquiry into transnational repression in the UK
24 January 2025

New inquiry: Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains
The inquiry will examine the UK’s legal and voluntary frameworks underpinning the UK’s response to forced labour in international supply chains.
21 January 2025

New inquiry into Daesh crimes - Has the UK met its human rights obligations?
The new inquiry will examine what obligations the UK Government has under human rights law to respond to international crimes
13 January 2025

Call for evidence in Mental Health Bill legislative scrutiny
The Committee is undertaking scrutiny of the bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards
19 December 2024

Human Rights Committee launches inquiry into Northern Ireland Troubles Act remedial order
The Act was introduced to address the legacy of the Troubles and promote reconciliation, however its compatibility with the ECHR was challenged in legal proceedings
12 December 2024

Lord Alton elected Chair of Joint Committee on Human Rights
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has elected David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool as its Chair
5 December 2024

General Election 2024 - Select Committees
Following the dissolution of Parliament on 30 May 2024, all select committees have ceased to exist.
30 May 2024