INHUMANE BREXIT

Amnesty warn leaving EU will mean massive loss’ for most vulnerable

LEAVING the European Union will “dramatically reduce the human rights of people in Scotland and the UK”, Amnesty International have warned.

The group said that when we exit the EU, women, the elderly, young people and disabled people will lose a vital safety set that protects their rights.

The EU Withdrawal Bill will mean the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union will no longer apply.

Scotland chief Kate Nevens said: “The charter protects people’s rights, dignity, personal data and health and it provides protection for women, old people and disabled people.

“It will be a massive loss for the most vulnerable in society. It is incredibly concerning.”

Nevens spoke exclusively to the Record as Amnesty published their annual global report looking at the state of human rights around the world.

Amnesty accused ministers of “soft-pedalling” on human rights overseas in pursuit of trade deals with brutal regimes, triggering a rise in arms manufactured in Scotland.

The Brexit Bill fails to retain citizens’ ability to bring a case founded on EU “general principles”, which include protections such as the right to equality.

A recent example of people relying on the safety net was a case brought by a gay man in a civil partnership who wanted to enforce his right to equality.

He mounted a challenge to his employer’s refusal to pay his pension to his partner after his death in the same way they would any other married couple.

His challenge under EU law was

successful. But the ladder he climbed up is being kicked away.

Nevens added: “Support for human rights in Scotland is more than three times higher than in other parts of the UK.

“We are concerned that the withdrawal really goes against what the people of Scotland want. We do not want to go backwards in Scotland.

“People need to make sure that policy makers in Scotland do all they can to protect our rights.

“The UK Government are also making new trade deals with authoritarian regimes with poor human rights records. This has created an increase in sales or arms manufactured in Scotland.

“Raytheon in Fife have produced smart bombs, with evidence pointing to the likelihood of them being used in the Yemen conflict.”

Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: “Without reform, the EU Withdrawal Bill is set to substantially reduce rights in the UK.

“Under cover of Brexit, the Government are planning to strip the British public of protections.

“We’re concerned the UK are using the withdrawal from the EU to justify a new ‘hard-nosed’ approach to trade which could mean soft-pedalling on human rights overseas.”