The Protocols of the Act in Detail

The protocols are new parts of the European Convention on Human Rights, added since the Convention was first written. Not all of these are in the Human Rights Act, sometimes because they are covered in other Laws.

.: Protocol 1, Article 1:Protection of property.

Property has a very wide meaning. It can include shares, a pension, or welfare benefits that you have contributed to by paying national insurance, or even the right to sue someone.

The Article says that the Government or a public authority cannot take your property away from you unless the law states that it can and it is in the public interest to do so. If your property is taken away, you should be able to claim compensation. It also says that the Government or a public authority cannot restrict what you do with your property, unless there is a law that allows it to do this, and there is a good reason for it.
However, it does not affect the right of the Government or a public authority to take or control your property to force you to pay taxes or fines.

.: Protocol 1, Article 2: Right to education.

This gives everyone the right to go to school and the right to apply to university or college (but it does not prevent schools and colleges choosing the people that they will accept). It says that the government should make sure that the education is of a reasonable standard. This applies to private as well as state schools. The Article says that the Government and schools must respect the religious views and other serious beliefs of a child's parents, but it does not give people the right to a particular type of education for their children.

.: Protocol 1, Article 3: Right to free elections.

This says that the Government must hold elections at reasonable intervals and that the elections must be by secret ballot. It gives people the right to vote or to stand in elections, although there are some restrictions on this right. It does not say what type of election system the Government should use.

.: Protocol 6, Articles land 2: Abolition of the death penalty.

The sixth protocol abolished the death penalty in Britain. But Protocol 6 says we can still use the death penalty in wartime or when war is about to break out.