We have always had 'human rights'. Anybody could go to the High Court and plead that the behaviour of government, or any other person or body, was treating them unjustly.
The difference now is that there is an Act of Parliament, tainted with the vile odour of Europe, which a) wakes up lawyers who didn't know the existing law b) sees money for them c) might, conceivably, be a money-spinner in Europe d) can be seized on by anyone who is against the idea of us being connected with Europe at all