Jewish human rights charity tells Conservative chairman that European Convention is important to minorities

Jewish human rights charity René Cassin has written to Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands MP to remind him of the history and importance of the European Convention on Human Rights. The letter comes after senior Conservatives recently suggested withdrawing from the Convention.

Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director of René Cassin, warned Mr Hands that withdrawal would threaten the peace in Northern Ireland, destabilise the union with Scotland, and leave the UK isolated in Europe with only Russia and Belarus for company. She further highlighted that the Convention was written by a Conservative British lawyer, David Maxwell-Fyfe, and was supported by Winston Churchill.

Hasenson-Gross stated: “The European Convention on Human Rights has underpinned individual liberties in the UK for 70 years. It is particularly important in protecting minority communities. Those calling for the UK to withdraw from the Convention are reckless and irresponsible. Even if they are careless about individual liberties, dismissive of minority rights, and ignorant of the history behind the Convention, they should think twice about advocating a policy that could threaten peace in Northern Ireland, break up the UK, and leave Britain in a ‘club’ with Russia and Belarus”.

René Cassin is a Jewish human rights charity based in the UK, with the mission to realise the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was created as a response to the Holocaust, to ensure that future generations would never have to endure the same human rights abuses.