Plight of human rights in the UK highlighted in national campaign

Lush Cosmetics join forces with EachOther to bring essential human rights to British high streets

Human rights is an issue that affects everyone, but in recent years there have been sustained efforts to undermine our rights and make human rights a dirty word. From legislation curtailing people’s right to peaceful assembly and protest to threats to withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as well as those working to uphold the law derided as “lefty lawyers”, our essential human rights are under attack.

EachOther have produced a briefing paper detailing these threats, which has been used to form the basis of a public education campaign that will be running in all 102 Lush stores in the UK from 16 May to 2 June. Central to this campaign, Lush have produced a new shower powder (showder) called Human Rights that 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.

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 Prime Minister Rishi 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”

“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.

“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.” 

– Emma Guy, EachOther’s Editor in Chief

“Lush have 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”.

-Lush Campaigns Manager Andrew Butler

notes to editors

About EachOther

There is more that unites us than divides us, that is what we believe at EachOther. As an award-winning charity, EachOther has educated the public on human rights for the past nine years, changing perceptions and reaching across tables on the way. To date, we are proud to have supported the voices of over 463 writers, from varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Despite our success, the charitable landscape has become extremely challenging – which is why we have launched a crowdfunder to ensure that we can continue to support the vital work of underrepresented and marginalised voices from communities across the UK. 

Today, we are proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s leading, educational human rights charities. Founded in 2015 as RightsInfo, our small team has provided human rights education and reportage to the UK public for almost a decade, at times, to an audience of over half a million people a year. 

About Lush

Lush invents, manufactures and retails fresh handmade cosmetics.  A beauty company with a campaigning heart, Lush is passionate about direct action using its stores around the world as a platform to shed light on little-known social and environmental issues. www.lush.com