Human rights are brought to life by a number of defining principles. This text explores each of those principles in depth through comprehensive,informative and provocative papers written by prominent and distinguished practitioners and legal academics. These papers were first delivered at a series of seminars organised by JUSTICE and University College London. Contents: Foreword by the Hon. Mr Justice Richards Introduction by Jeffrey Jowell QC and Jonathan Cooper The concept of a lawful interference with fundamental rights - Helen Mountfield Identifying the principles of proportionality - Michael Fordham and Thomas de la Mare Dertermining civil rights and obligations - Javan Herberg, Andrew le Sueur and Jane Mulcahy Positive obligations under the Convention - Keir Starmer The horizontal effect of the Human Rights Act: moving beyond the public-private distinction - Murray Hunt The place of the Human Rights Act in a democratic society - Rabinder Singh Part of the Justice Series.