In the UK, human rights are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998. The Act gives effect to the human rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Article 8 – the right to respect for your family and private life, your home, and your correspondence is one of the rights protected by the Human Rights Act.

family life

Family life includes the right to have and maintain family relationships. It covers your right not to be separated from your family and to maintain contact if your family is split up.

To decide if a relationship is covered by family life what matters is the closeness of the relationship rather than the legal status.

Relationships covered by family life include relationships between:

  • parents and their children, including illegitimate and adopted children
  • husband and wife as well as unmarried couples
  • siblings.

Same-sex couples are protected under article 8 but their protection falls under their private life rather than family life.