Book Description

The Joint Committee on Human Rights welcomes the provision in the Criminal Courts and Justice Bill, carried over from the last Session of this Parliament, which extends the current offence of possession of extreme pornography to include possession of pornographic images depicting rape and other non-consensual sexual penetration. The Committee considers this provision to be human rights enhancing, given the evidence of cultural harm done by such pornography, and acknowledges the strong justification provided for this proportionate restriction on individual rights. However, some of the provisions of the Bill cause concern. The Committee is disappointed that the Government has not examined the provisions of the Bill against all the relevant international standards relating to the rights of children. It urges the Government to provide further information in relation to SEN provision in secure colleges; and recommends that the Bill be amended to make explicit that secure college rules can only authorise the use of reasonable force on children as a last resort. The Committee also reports on the Deregulation Bill. It expresses its concern that application of the economic growth duty in that Bill to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) risks the possibility of that body's UN accredited 'A' status being downgraded and could put the UK in breach of its obligations under EU equality law. It recommends that this duty not be applied to the EHRC unless that body is satisfied that it can be done in a way that will not restrict its independence.