London - The Human Rights Act, which becomes law today, has been billed as the most fundamental change to the justice system since the Magna Carta. For the first time, enshrined in English law is a right to life and fair trial, freedom from torture and degrading treatment, privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom to marry and have a family.
The Act will mean an end to litigants having to take the lengthy and costly road to pursue their claim at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.