Wainwright V United Kingdom: Filling the Gaps of Common Law Rights To Privacy Under The European Convention On Human Rights

Abstract

Human Rights took a significant shape following the Universal Declaration in 1948. Since then systems of law have sort to see that these rights are guaranteed and protected. The common law system in the United Kingdom is one of such systems that have ensured the protection of rights of its citizens. But one glaring aspect of rights which remained lagging as seen in the decisions of courts in England was the right to privacy. The criticism that followed the shortcoming of the common law system in guarantying right to privacy appears to have been put to rest following the Decision in Wainwright v United Kingdom and the domestication of its principles. By analysing the case of Wainright v United Kingdom, this article x-rays and exposes the shortcomings of the common law system and celebrates the stability now being enjoyed by the legislative intervention of British parliament in domesticating the European Convention of Human Rights into the Human Rights Act, 1998.