United Kingdom

The vote to leave the European Union created uncertainty about the future status of protections arising from EU law and the rights of EU residents. A spike in hate crimes after the referendum followed a campaign tinged with xenophobia. The European Court of Human Rights and domestic Human Rights Act face ongoing political and media attack. The attack in Westminster, which left five dead, revived problematic calls to bypass encryption. Existing overbroad state surveillance powers without adequate safeguards were expanded. The UK continued to resettle some Syrian refugees, but ended a scheme to help unaccompanied children without family ties.