The anniversary of Charter 77

Forty-six years ago today, in January 1977, the Charter 77 movement began in Czechoslovakia. Charter 77 was a document that criticised the Czechoslovak government for violating human rights such as the right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and religious freedom.

The document was signed by hundreds of Czechoslovakian citizens including academics, writers, and activists. Members of Charter 77 played a significant role in the Velvet Revolution of 1989, in which Czechoslovakia transitioned into a democracy.

Charter 77’s legacy still resonates with us today, reminding us of the importance of standing up for our human rights and democracy. In fact, Charter 88, Unlock Democracy’s parent organisation, was named after Charter 77.

Today, the fight to protect human rights continues worldwide.

2023 will be an important year for human rights in the UK. The Government’s so-called ‘Bill of Rights’ may soon return to the House of Commons for a Second Reading. The Bill will scrap the Human Rights Act, undermine people’s human rights, and weaken checks and balances on the Government. 

Luckily, the Prime Minister has said the ‘Bill of Rights’ has been ‘deprioritised’, but we are still concerned about what the future holds for our human rights’ protections.

This Government has shown little regard for our human rights, and interfered significantly with our right to protest by passing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and promoting the Public Order Bill. Meanwhile, our current Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has called for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

This year, we will continue to hold the government to account over their attempts to weaken our human rights’ protections. Like our predecessor Charter 88, and their namesake Charter 77, we must stand up for human rights. They are the foundation of our society and our democracy.