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Human
Rights
One
of the most wide ranging amendments to law in the UK comes
into force on 2nd October 2000: The Human Rights Act 1998. The
new legislation has been brought about by the European
Convention on Human Rights, which aims to protect rights to
life and liberty. This has an impact on journalists when it
comes down to matters of privacy and freedom of expression.
The act does not apply to criminal proceedings, so cannot
assist the reporter if he or she wants to challenge
restrictions imposed by a court. It is important to realise
that the new legislation is still in its early days and so the
full impact cannot be assessed until it has been tested in
court.
Article
8 is about respect for private and family life.
Everyone
has the right to respect for his/her privacy, family life,
home and correspondence.
No
public authority shall interfere with the exercising of the
above right except in accordance with the law, democratic
interests, national security, public safety, the economic
health of the country, protection of health and morals,
prevention of crime, and the protection of the rights and
freedoms of others.
Article
10 is about the freedom of expression.
Everyone
has the right to freedom of expression. This includes the
right to hold opinions and to handle information and ideas
without the interference of public bodies. This article shall
not prevent states from requiring the licensing of
broadcasting or cinema enterprises.
These
freedoms may be subject to formalities, conditions,
restrictions or penalties prescribed by law in the interests
of democracy, national security, public safety, the economic
health of the country, protection of health and morals,
prevention of crime, the protection of the rights and freedoms
of others, preventing the disclosure of confidential
information and maintaining the authority and impartiality of
the judiciary.
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