Born in controversy, 9/11 kept the Human Rights Act at the forefront of a heated political debate. Charlotte Edmond traces the celebrated and reviled law's recent history

"People assume I wear sandals, have a pony tail and knit my own underpants – but contrary to popular belief, I come to work every day in a suit," comments the City litigator, referring to how his human rights work is often viewed.

Romanticised by Hollywood, thundered at by the tabloid press and politicised the world over, human rights are always an emotive subject. Often stereotyped as being part of a liberal, bleeding heart agenda, the broad scope of what is included under the catch-all term ensures that almost everyone is affected by some element of human rights legislation – although much of it is taken for granted in developed democracies.