Liberty director spells out message

Sep 11 2008 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

THE head of one of the most influential pressure groups in the country last night told North East companies about the need for businesses to play their part in the human rights movement.

Shami Chakrabarti, the high-profile director of human rights organisation Liberty, spoke to members of the region’s business community at an event hosted by Newcastle University Business School at St James’s Park.

The former barrister explained why business and human rights are intertwined and spoke at length about the failings of the US Government throughout the war on terror, and also on privacy and extradition.

Asked why a business should take human rights into consideration, she said: "On one level we are all human beings. Whether we are employees, employers, entrepreneurs, lawyers or teachers, you appeal to the very basic level of ethics."

Meanwhile, the campaigner remained bullish about Liberty’s battle against the Government’s drive to extend the maximum time police can hold terror suspects to 42 days.

Despite the fact that the proposal was passed by 315 MPs to 306 last June, Ms Chakrabarti said she was optimistic about her fight against 42-day law in the future. She said: "I don’t concede that this is going to be law because we have got the House of Lords to help us out. People across the board are calling it a political stand and not really a good policy.

"We would have won it in the Commons but it became very political with all sorts of pressures [involved]."

Ms Chakrabarti also gave her views on the conflict between business and the demands of football fans – as highlighted by the current turmoil at Newcastle United.

She said: "There’s a very lively debate about people putting their hearts and souls into football who aren’t getting their say, but maybe if we come together and protest, then maybe that will make it change."

Shami Chakrabarti became director of Liberty in 2003, and has since become a regular face in the media for her often outspoken views. Previously she worked as a lawyer in the Home Office from 1996 until 2001 for Governments of both sides of the divide.