Archie Battersbee’s mother and father, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, have applied to a UN panel after losing battles over life-support treatment in London courts. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) has now issued an order stating that the UK government must keep Archie alive while the committee considers the case. The order states that life support should not be withdrawn while the matter is being considered, despite rulings by the UK’s highest courts and most senior judges this week. The United Nations has now sent a letter to Archie’s parents and legal team saying they had “asked the State party [the UK] to refrain from withdrawing life-sustaining medical care, including mechanical ventilation and artificial nutrition and hydration, from the alleged victim while the case is under review by the committee.” He added that “this request does not imply that a decision has been made on the merits of the matter under consideration.” Hollie Dance said she was grateful to the UN Credit: PA The UK has an obligation under international human rights law to comply with the interim measures indicated by the commission, the charity supporting the family said. Responding to the news, Archie’s mum Hollie Dance said: “I am so grateful to the United Nations for their response and for acting so quickly for my son. “We’ve been under so much stress and anxiety, we’re already heartbroken and not knowing what’s going to happen next has been excruciating. Learning this news now means everything. “This is the first time this has happened in the history of this inhumane system in the UK. “There have been so many ups and downs but we have put on the full armor of God, we have entered the fray and now we have given Archie time. That’s all we ever asked for.” Archie Battersbee was found with a ligature over his head on April 7. Credit: Family photo Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Center which supported the families’ case, said: “We are delighted with the UN’s response. “It is time that the UK’s procedures regarding the preventive termination of children’s lives were brought under international scrutiny. “We now hope and pray that the UN commission can bring justice to Archie and his family, as well as other disabled people in UK hospitals in future cases. “Life is the most precious gift we have. “We have stood with the family since the beginning three months ago after the tragedy and now we continue to pray for this beautiful boy, Archie, and for everyone involved.” Archie suffered “catastrophic” brain damage in an accident at home three months ago. His mother found Archie unconscious with a ligature over his head on April 7. He believes he may have been participating in an online challenge. The young man has not regained consciousness. Doctors treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, believe he is ‘brain stem dead’ and say continuing on life support treatment is not in his best interests. Archie’s parents disagree and say his heart is beating and are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre’s campaign. Lawyers representing the Royal London Hospital’s management trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, had sought rulings on what medical moves are in Archie’s best interests. Another High Court judge, Ms Justice Arbuthnot, first heard the case and concluded, after an earlier hearing, that Archie was dead. However, Court of Appeal judges upheld Archie’s parents’ challenge against the decisions made by Ms Justice Arbuthnot and said the evidence should be reviewed. In a second hearing, Mr Justice Hayden said the evidence showed Archie had suffered “significant injury” to “multiple areas” of his brain and had not “regained consciousness at any time”. He said the reality of Archie’s case was “terrible”. But his family also appealed the decision, arguing that Mr Justice Hayden had not given “real or appropriate weight” to Archie’s or his family’s wishes and religious beliefs and had failed to make a “holistic assessment” of the benefits and of charges continued life support treatment – appeal dismissed by Court of Appeal. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know