The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has launched a new inquiry titled ‘Human Rights and the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence’. This inquiry seeks to explore how human rights can be protected in the context of the rapid development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the UK. While AI offers significant societal benefits, such as improved decision-making and productivity, it also raises serious concerns. These include the potential for AI systems to perpetuate discrimination and bias, infringe on privacy and freedom of expression and obscure accountability when rights are violated due to opaque or autonomous decision-making processes. The Committee is particularly interested in whether the UK’s current legal and regulatory frameworks are adequate to address these challenges. It will assess the robustness of the government’s 'AI Opportunities Action Plan' and consider what legislative or regulatory changes may be necessary to ensure that human rights are upheld as AI technologies evolve.

The House of Lords Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has launched an inquiry into recent legislative changes affecting protest laws. The inquiry will examine whether Parliament’s expansion of police powers and the creation of new criminal offences for protest–related activities appropriately balance public protection with the respect for protest rights, and whether these reforms are consistent with UK human rights obligations.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) recently published a report titled ‘Accountability for Daesh crimes’ which seeks to address the UK’s international obligations to hold Daesh fighters accountable and enable their prosecution in the UK for international crimes committed. As part of this wider report on Daesh crimes, the JCHR looked at the issue of deprivation of citizenship and made several recommendations around concerns about sufficient procedural safeguards, transparency, and independent oversight.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its Fifth Special Report of Session 2024–25 on forced labour in UK supply chains, prompting a formal government response coordinated by the Department for Business and Trade. The government affirms its opposition to forced labour and outlines an ongoing cross-Whitehall review of responsible business conduct to evaluate current frameworks, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and to consider stronger due diligence, import controls, and enforcement mechanisms. It highlights coordinated departmental roles, the creation of the Fair Work Agency by 2026, and potential reforms to modern slavery reporting duties. The response also addresses trade policy, procurement, and sector-specific actions—such as ethical sourcing in Great British Energy and the forthcoming Critical Minerals Strategy—while noting that detailed legislative or regulatory changes will await the outcome of the review. The government further commits to international cooperation, proportionate obligations for small businesses, and enhanced non-judicial remedies through the new Office for responsible business conduct, while choosing to engage existing survivor advisory structures rather than form a new council.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published the government's response to its Hillsborough Law report. The response confirms legislation will be introduced before 15 April 2025 establishing a statutory duty of candour for public authorities. The government also outlined progress on the Independent Public Advocate role created by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, with appointment expected by summer 2025. Additional commitments include expanding legal aid for bereaved families in disaster-related inquests and state-related deaths, with implementation details pending.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published the government’s response to its Second Report of Session 2023–24 on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. The government has responded to the findings of the JCHR on issues including asylum and human rights, the safety of Rwanda, judicial scrutiny, disapplication of human rights law, interim measures from the European Court of Human Rights and other issues with the Bill. The government has stated that the introduction of the Bill is its response to a ‘global crisis of increased levels of illegal migration’ which requires ‘bold novel solutions’.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published a report calling for reforms to the children’s social care system in England after finding that the rights of children in care and those receiving social care support are not always respected. It recommends that the government incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law in England, increase the availability of suitable care placements and end the use of illegal and inadequate accommodation. The report also calls for clearer statutory guidance and national eligibility criteria for the social care of disabled children, greater support for kinship carers and needs-based support for care leavers beyond existing age-based cut-off points. It further recommends improved access to mental health support, action to address the discrimination and criminalisation of care-experienced young people, and simpler complaints processes and stronger advocacy rights.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its second report on the proposed draft Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (Remedial) Order 2023 (the Remedial Order). The report welcomes the government’s action in laying the Remedial Order to address the incompatibility of the UK’s bulk communications interception regime concerning protection of confidential journalistic material and sources of journalistic material. Additionally, the JCHR has welcomed the fact that the Home Office has followed the recommendation of the JCHR’s previous report in time. The JCHR is also satisfied that the Remedial Order does not need to be drawn to the special attention of Parliament on any of the Joint Committee of Statutory Instrument’s ground and recommends that the Remedial Order is approved by Parliament.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has recommended that Parliament approve the Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025, while also saying that the government’s decision to proceed by remedial order despite related primary legislation already being before Parliament raises constitutional concerns.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its first report on the proposed Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 Remedial Order. While broadly welcoming the government's proposal to address incompatibilities identified in the Re Dillon case, the Committee highlighted several areas requiring improvement. These include the need for the government to better articulate its 'compelling reasons' for using the remedial order process and to address the apparent oversight of the declaration of incompatibility regarding section 45 (police complaints). The Committee also identified minor drafting errors to be corrected before the order is laid in draft. The report notes that while some Court of Appeal declarations of incompatibility are subject to Supreme Court appeal, the government has committed to bringing forward primary legislation to address remaining legacy matters when parliamentary time allows.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its fourth report of session 2026–27, calling for a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) Bill and an independent AI oversight body on a statutory footing. The report finds the existing legal framework fragmented and inadequate, applying primarily at the point of deployment rather than upstream in the AI supply chain. It recommends a risk-based regime comprising: (1) prohibitions on certain AI uses incompatible with human rights; (2) prior approval requirements for high-risk systems; (3) mandatory due diligence obligations across the AI supply chain; (4) transparency requirements across the AI lifecycle and (5) strengthened UK GDPR protections for automated decision-making, clarifying that a human in the loop alone does not constitute meaningful human involvement. The JCHR also recommends that the government place the AI Security Institute (AISI) on a statutory basis and publish a timeline for ratifying the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published a report on 24 July 2025 warning that the UK's legal framework is failing to prevent goods made with forced labour entering the market. The report recommends new legislation mandating human rights due diligence for companies, establishing import bans on forced labour goods, and creating civil liability routes for victims. The Committee found the UK has fallen behind the US and EU in tackling forced labour, with particular concerns around critical minerals and solar panel supply chains. The report calls for improved coordination between enforcement agencies and clearer government leadership on the issue.