‘zero tolerance to hate’ claim
and being able to understand where there’s potential for tensions to be raised”.
Ross continued on the same line of questioning, who claimed that the logging of hate crime incidents will be “stressful, costly, damaging to reputations and could lead to problems in the workplace”.
“Doesn’t the First Minister recognize the chilling effect his law will have on free speech,” he asked. Yousaf responded that there are “of course” protections for freedom of expression explicitly within the bill.
He added: “There is a triple lock protection because there is explicit reference in the bill itself in relation to freedom of expression. They were a matter of compromise between the Government and members of the opposition. And, of course, our legislation has to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and important articles within that in relation to freedom of expression.”
The act comes into force on April 1 and criminalises threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred against someone who possesses, or appears to possess, certain characteristics.
They are age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics sometimes known as being intersex.
Our Act has to comply with the ECHR
A UN human rights body yesterday called on the UK Government to repeal or amend contentious legacy legislation that offers conditional immunity to perpetrators of crimes committed during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee said it was “particularly concerned” about controversial legal provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, which offers a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences for those who co-operate with a new body aimed at truth recovery.
The act received royal assent last autumn despite widespread opposition from political parties and victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland as well as the Irish government.
Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland deputy director for Amnesty International, said: “We welcome the strong critical findings from the United Nations committee on the UK’s approach to Troubles-related violations.
“The recommendations show how isolated the UK is on the global stage.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The legacy act seeks to put in place effective information recovery for victims and families, while complying with our international obligations.”