UK in breach of international
human rights obligations due
to their Austerity policies
• Increases in the inheritance tax limit
and value added tax, and reductions to
corporation tax.
• The national minimum wage, “is not
sufficient to ensure a decent standard of
living in the State party, particularly in
London, and does not apply for workers
under the age of 25”.
• Sanctions in relation to benefit fraud
and the absence of due process.
• The increased risk of poverty for many
people.
• The persistent critical situation in
terms of availability, affordability and
accessibility of adequate housing
including social housing.
• Reforms to the legal aid system and
The inquiry concluded that changes
the resulting restriction of access to
to housing benefits and criteria for
justice, in areas including employment,
parts of the Personal Independence
housing, education and social welfare
Payment, along with a narrowing of
social care criteria and the closure of benefits.
• The significant rise in homelessness
the Independent Living Fund, all
and the country-wide reliance on
"hindered disabled people's right to
live independently and be included in foodbanks.
• The lack of adequate resources
the community".
provided to mental health services.
• Persistent serious shortcomings in the
Here are just a few highlights...
care and treatment of older persons,
including those with dementia.
• The high incidence of part-time work
• The announced plan of replacing the
and the use of zero hour contracts,
Human Rights Act of 1998 by a new
precarious self-employment and
British Bill of Rights.
temporary jobs.
• Lack of corporate regulation.
• The new Trade Union Act (2016),
which limits the right of workers to
undertake industrial action.
In a report carried out by the UN,
they claimed they were “seriously
concerned” by the state of inequality
in the UK. Changes to benefits
"disproportionately affected"
disabled people, the UN Committee
on the Rights of Disabled Persons
(CRPD) found. The UK was the first
investigated under a UN convention
it has been signed up to since 2007.
They also looked at a range of recent
welfare reforms and legislation
including the Welfare Reform Act
2012, Care Act 2014, and Welfare
Reform and Work Act 2016.
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