CRM-LAW-1948-001United Nations / international law1948
United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The foundational statement of modern international human-rights law, covering dignity, equality, liberty, fair trial, privacy, expression, religion and social rights.
Legal statusDeclaration / foundation of international human-rights law
Fundamental rightsEqualityFair trial
Key provisions and structure
- Arts 1–2: dignity, equality and non-discrimination
- Arts 3–5: life and liberty; prohibition of slavery and torture
- Arts 8–12: effective remedy, fair trial, presumption of innocence and privacy
- Arts 18–20: thought, religion, expression, assembly and association
CRM-LAW-1966-002United Nations / international law1966
United Nations
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Protects civil and political rights including life, freedom from torture and arbitrary detention, fair trial, privacy, religion and expression.
Legal statusInternational treaty; signed but not ratified by China
Fundamental rightsDetentionFair trialFreedom of expression
Key provisions and structure
- Art 6: right to life
- Art 7: prohibition of torture and non-consensual experimentation
- Art 9: liberty, security and protection from arbitrary detention
- Art 14: independent and fair trial
- Arts 19, 21, 22: expression, assembly and association
CRM-LAW-1966-003United Nations / international law1966
United Nations
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Requires progressive realisation of work, social security, health, education, culture and an adequate standard of living.
Legal statusInternational treaty; ratified by China
Social rightsLabourHealthEducation
Key provisions and structure
- Art 2: progressive realisation and non-discrimination
- Arts 6–8: work, conditions and trade-union rights
- Art 11: adequate standard of living
- Art 12: highest attainable standard of health
- Art 13: education
CRM-LAW-1984-004United Nations / international law1984
United Nations
Convention against Torture
Creates core duties to prevent and criminalise torture, investigate and prosecute or extradite, and prohibit return to a real risk of torture.
Legal statusInternational treaty; ratified by China and the UK
TortureNon-refoulementDetentionAccountability
Key provisions and structure
- Art 1: definition of torture
- Art 2: no emergency may justify torture
- Art 3: no expulsion, return or extradition to torture risk
- Arts 12–14: investigation, complaint, redress and rehabilitation
- Art 15: exclusion of statements obtained by torture
CRM-LAW-1965-005United Nations / international law1965
United Nations
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Requires elimination of discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and guarantees equal protection and remedies.
Legal statusInternational treaty; ratified by China and the UK
Non-discriminationMinoritiesEquality
Key provisions and structure
- Art 1: definition
- Art 2: state duties
- Art 4: racist propaganda and organisations
- Art 5: equality rights
- Art 6: protection and remedies
CRM-LAW-1979-006United Nations / international law1979
United Nations
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
The central treaty on women's rights, covering legal equality, participation, education, employment, health and family life.
Legal statusInternational treaty; ratified by China and the UK
Women's rightsNon-discriminationFamily
Key provisions and structure
- Arts 1–2: definition and duties
- Art 5: stereotypes
- Arts 7–9: public life and nationality
- Arts 10–14: education, work, health and rural women
- Art 16: equality in marriage and family
CRM-LAW-1989-007United Nations / international law1989
United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Establishes best interests, participation, family life, protection from violence and special protection for refugee children.
Legal statusInternational treaty; ratified by China and the UK
Children's rightsFamilyAsylum
Key provisions and structure
- Art 3: best interests
- Arts 9–10: separation and reunification
- Art 12: right to be heard
- Art 19: protection from violence
- Art 22: refugee children
- Art 37: torture and detention
CRM-LAW-2006-008United Nations / international law2006
United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Protects dignity, autonomy, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, legal capacity, liberty, access to justice and community living.
Legal statusInternational treaty; ratified by China and the UK
Disability rightsEqualityJudicial remedies
Key provisions and structure
- Art 5: equality
- Art 12: equal recognition before law
- Art 13: access to justice
- Art 14: liberty
- Arts 15–17: torture, exploitation and integrity
CRM-LAW-2006-009United Nations / international law2006
United Nations
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Prohibits enforced disappearance and requires detention records, investigation, accountability, truth and reparation.
Legal statusInternational treaty; China is not a State Party
Enforced disappearanceDetentionAccountability
Key provisions and structure
- Art 1: absolute prohibition
- Art 2: definition
- Arts 6–8: criminal responsibility
- Arts 17–18: secret detention and records
- Art 24: victims, truth and reparation
CRM-LAW-19511967-010United Nations / international law1951/1967
UNHCR / United Nations
1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol
Defines refugee status and exclusion and establishes state duties, including the non-refoulement rule in Article 33.
Legal statusInternational treaty; the UK is a State Party
AsylumNon-refoulementRefugees
Key provisions and structure
- Art 1A(2): refugee definition and Convention reasons
- Art 1F: exclusion
- Art 31: unlawful entry
- Art 32: expulsion safeguards
- Art 33: non-refoulement
CRM-LAW-2022-011United Nations / professional standard2022
UN OHCHR
Istanbul Protocol
The UN manual for effective legal, medical and psychological investigation and documentation of torture and ill-treatment.
Legal statusUN professional investigation standard (second edition)
TortureEvidenceMedical evidence
Key provisions and structure
- Independence, promptness and thoroughness
- Interviewing, consent and safety
- Physical and psychological evidence
- Medico-legal report structure and consistency
CRM-LAW-1950-012Council of Europe1950
Council of Europe / ECtHR
European Convention on Human Rights
The central European human-rights treaty, supervised by the Strasbourg Court; it continues to bind the UK independently of EU membership.
Legal statusInternational treaty; given domestic effect through the UK Human Rights Act
Fundamental rightsTortureFair trialPrivacy
Key provisions and structure
- Art 2: life
- Art 3: absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment
- Art 5: liberty
- Art 6: fair trial
- Arts 8–11: private life, religion, expression and assembly
- Arts 13–14: remedy and non-discrimination
CRM-LAW-1952–2013-013Council of Europe1952–2013
Council of Europe / ECtHR
Protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights
Adds property, education, elections, movement, abolition of the death penalty and general non-discrimination, and reforms Court procedure.
Legal statusTreaty protocols; application depends on national ratification
PropertyElectionsDeath penaltyProcedure
Key provisions and structure
- Protocol 1: property, education and elections
- Protocol 4: movement and expulsion
- Protocols 6 and 13: death penalty
- Protocol 12: general non-discrimination
- Protocol 15: subsidiarity, margin and four-month limit
CRM-LAW-Current-014Council of EuropeCurrent
European Court of Human Rights
Rules of Court of the European Court of Human Rights
Governs individual applications, interim measures, admissibility, written proceedings, hearings and judgments before the Strasbourg Court.
Legal statusRules of Court
ProcedureInterim measuresJudicial remedies
Key provisions and structure
- Rule 39: interim measures
- Rule 47: individual application requirements
- Admissibility and observations
- Committee, Chamber and Grand Chamber procedure
CRM-LAW-20002009-015European Union law2000/2009
European Union
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Has the same legal value as the EU Treaties and contains seven titles: dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizens' rights, justice and general provisions.
Legal statusEU primary law; generally no longer directly applicable in the UK after Brexit
Fundamental rightsAsylumData protectionNon-refoulement
Key provisions and structure
- Arts 1–5: dignity, life, integrity, torture and slavery
- Arts 7–8: privacy and data
- Arts 18–19: asylum, collective expulsion and non-refoulement
- Arts 47–50: remedy, fair trial and criminal guarantees
- Art 51: scope
CRM-LAW-2016 consolidated-016European Union law2016 consolidated
European Union
Treaty on European Union
Establishes dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights as EU values and recognises the Charter and ECHR principles.
Legal statusEU primary law
Rule of lawDemocracyFundamental rights
Key provisions and structure
- Art 2: Union values
- Art 6: Charter, ECHR and general principles
- Art 7: serious breach mechanism
- Art 21: human rights in external action
CRM-LAW-20242026-017European Union law2024/2026
European Union
EU Qualification Regulation 2024/1347
Harmonises refugee and subsidiary-protection qualification, actors of persecution, internal protection, exclusion and the content of protection.
Legal statusCurrent EU regulation; replaces Directive 2011/95/EU
AsylumRefugeesSubsidiary protection
Key provisions and structure
- Arts 4–8: assessment, actors and internal protection
- Arts 9–12: persecution, reasons and exclusion
- Arts 13–14: refugee status
- Arts 15–19: serious harm and subsidiary protection
- Later chapters: content of protection
CRM-LAW-20242026-018European Union law2024/2026
European Union
EU Asylum Procedure Regulation 2024/1348
Creates a common procedure for making, registering, examining and withdrawing protection claims, including border procedures and remedies.
Legal statusCurrent EU regulation; replaces Directive 2013/32/EU
AsylumProcedureBorders
Key provisions and structure
- Making, registering and lodging claims
- Interview, interpretation, legal information and special guarantees
- Safe-country concepts
- Border and accelerated procedures
- Appeals and effective remedy
CRM-LAW-20242026-019European Union law2024/2026
European Union
EU Reception Conditions Directive 2024/1346
Sets standards for housing, healthcare, education, employment, movement, detention and safeguards for vulnerable applicants.
Legal statusEU directive; requires national transposition
AsylumReception拘留
Key provisions and structure
- Information, documentation and movement
- Detention grounds, conditions and review
- Children and families
- Material conditions, health and work
- Special reception needs
CRM-LAW-1998-020UK law1998
UK Parliament
Human Rights Act 1998
Gives domestic effect to principal ECHR rights, requires public authorities to act compatibly and enables remedies in UK courts.
Legal statusCurrent UK statute
Fundamental rightsJudicial remediesPublic authorities
Key provisions and structure
- s2: Strasbourg case law
- s3: compatible interpretation
- s4: declaration of incompatibility
- ss6–8: public authorities, proceedings and remedies
- Schedule 1: Convention rights
CRM-LAW-2010-021UK law2010
UK Parliament
Equality Act 2010
Consolidates UK anti-discrimination law, protecting nine characteristics and regulating discrimination, harassment, victimisation and public-sector duties.
Legal statusCurrent UK statute
Non-discriminationEqualityPublic sector
Key provisions and structure
- s4: protected characteristics
- ss13,19: direct and indirect discrimination
- ss20–21: reasonable adjustments
- ss26–27: harassment and victimisation
- s149: public-sector equality duty
CRM-LAW-2015-022UK law2015
UK Parliament
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Consolidates slavery, forced labour and trafficking offences and provides prevention orders, confiscation, an independent commissioner and victim protection.
Legal statusCurrent UK statute
Modern slaveryHuman traffickingVictims
Key provisions and structure
- ss1–3: slavery, forced labour and trafficking
- ss8–10: reparation orders
- ss40–44: commissioner
- s45: victim defence
- s54: supply chains
CRM-LAW-2003-023UK law2003
UK Parliament
Extradition Act 2003
Governs UK extradition procedure, bars and human-rights review, central to China-related extradition and persecution-risk analysis.
Legal statusCurrent UK statute
ExtraditionHuman rightsTorture
Key provisions and structure
- ss13,81: extraneous considerations
- ss14,82: passage of time
- ss21,87: Human Rights Act compatibility
- s94: death-penalty assurance
- s91: physical or mental condition
CRM-LAW-2002-024UK law2002
UK Parliament
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
A principal statutory source for immigration and asylum appeals, protection and human-rights claims, certification and procedure.
Legal statusCurrent UK statute, as amended
AsylumAppealsHuman rights
Key provisions and structure
- s82: appealable decisions
- s84: grounds
- s92: in-country appeals
- s94: clearly unfounded certification
- ss117A–D: Article 8 public-interest considerations
CRM-LAW-2009-025UK law2009
UK Parliament
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
Section 55 requires the Home Secretary to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK when exercising immigration and nationality functions.
Legal statusCurrent UK statute
Children's rightsImmigrationBest interests
Key provisions and structure
- s55: safeguard and promote children's welfare
- Applies to immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions
- Read with the CRC and best-interests principle
CRM-LAW-2018-026UK law2018
UK Parliament
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Regulates personal and special-category data, law-enforcement and intelligence processing, data-subject rights and remedies.
Legal statusCurrent UK data-protection framework
PrivacyData protectionSurveillance
Key provisions and structure
- Principles and lawful bases
- Special-category and criminal data
- Access, rectification, erasure and restriction
- Law-enforcement and intelligence regimes
- ICO oversight and remedies
CRM-LAW-Current-027UK law / administrative rulesCurrent
UK Home Office
UK Immigration Rules
Sets current requirements for refugee status, humanitarian protection, admissibility, revocation and family and private life.
Legal statusContinuously updated statutory Immigration Rules
AsylumHuman rightsNon-refoulement
Key provisions and structure
- Current asylum and protection rules
- Persecution, serious harm and state protection
- Exclusion, revocation and cessation
- Article 8 under Appendix FM and Private Life
These summaries are research aids, not legal advice. For citation and casework, verify the current official text, reservations, declarations, ratification status and applicable case law.
