LUSH is bringing the Tories’ destruction of our human rights to the high street

On 16 May, EachOther and LUSH launched a national campaign to educate the public on human rights issues and to survey them on perceptions of human rights issues in the UK.

Human rights: Tories eroding our protections

EachOther, the UK’s weekly human rights publication, has partnered with the ethical cosmetic brand LUSH to deliver a message ahead of the upcoming general election: “Don’t make human rights a dirty word”.

In the last five years, the UK has witnessed an increase in threats to minimise, remove or replace human rights laws in the UK – by the government. These are laws that currently protect all of our day-to-day lives and are there as a safety net should we ever need them.

Over the last decade, the UK government has proposed withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – which is now a genuine threat.

In January 2024, Siofra O’Leary, president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), issued a warning to the prime minister that he would be breaking international human rights law if the government ignored orders from the court not to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Once again, our rights are on the line

However, Rishi Sunak has stated that he will not rule out withdrawing the UK from the ECHR, a move that would put us on a bench with Belarus and Russia. It would be the first time a nation broke away from human rights legislation it helped write.

LUSH and EachOther: reminding the public we do have rights

As we move nearer to a general election, misinformation, damaging rhetoric, and threats to withdraw from the ECHR are ever-present. Now, it is as vital as ever to protect each other’s rights – but to do that we need your support.

That’s why EachOther have teamed up with LUSH to deliver a campaign to educate people on human rights, counter misinformation and survey the public on their perceptions of human rights issues in the UK.

Emma Guy, EachOther’s editor in chief, stated:

The majority of the public (two-thirds) say they have little or no confidence that they have a say on the decisions made by the government – this is a growing concern for decision making on human rights issues in the UK.

Over the past four years, human rights have increasingly been presented in a negative light. The way we talk about certain issues is important because it can be used for political gain, to fuel misinformation or to misrepresent something or someone.

Guy continued:

Today is the start of reminding ourselves that collectively, we can recognise our rights, invoke them and continue to educate each other about them – to protect them for future generations.

Don’t make human rights a dirty word

EachOther and LUSH have created a product, a shower-powder (showder) called ‘Human rights’ which will be available in UK LUSH stores from 16 May-2 June.

‘Human rights’ will be used as a lighthearted way to start conversations with the public about this serious issue and raise funds for EachOther’s vital work, with the sales price of £14 (minus VAT) of each box sold donated to the charity.

Alongside the product launch, EachOthers’s new briefing paper outlines the damaging rhetoric used to make human rights a dirty word in the UK.

A boxed product was chosen as a means to impart important information about the campaign, as well as to invite people to share their views on human rights with EachOther, via a survey that they can access through a QR code on the back of the box (and in-store signage).

The front of the box reads “Essential Human Rights for Everyone” and states that human rights contains “Equality, Compassion, Humanity and Respect” (ECHR), which is exactly what the European Convention on Human Rights, that Sunak is threatening to withdraw us from, is all about.

The box design also forms the basis of the windows that will be appearing in all LUSH stores, with a lightbox featuring the artwork from the front of the box and bubbles around it reading:

Tough on Discrimination, Gentle on humanity, Smells like Freedom, Wash Away Inequality.

People are invited to get involved and “Protect your rights with EachOther.org.uk“

LUSH campaigns manager Andrew Butler stated:

LUSH has a long history of championing human rights around the world, and we feel it is vital to stand up for our rights. In the UK we are faced with a worrying and sustained attack on our essential human rights, from the right to protest to the right to hold the government to account.

These rights exist to protect us all but are especially important to protect those who are already marginalised and therefore more likely to suffer abuse and exploitation. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, so we stand together with EachOther to demand human rights protections for everyone.

Featured image and additional images via EachOther