Category: equality

Heterosexual Civil Partnership Refusal Not A Human Rights Breach – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 1st, 2016 in appeals, civil partnerships, equality, families, homosexuality, human rights, marriage, news, proportionality by tracey

‘Steinfeld & Anor v The Secretary of State for Education [2016] EWHC 128 (Admin). The High Court has ruled in the case of Steinfeld and Keidan v Secretary of State for Education, a human rights challenge to the law of Civil Partnerships. Mrs Justice Andrews ruled that the current law does not breach the human rights of opposite-sex couples who cannot obtain a Civil Partnership.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Review of racial bias and BAME representation in Criminal Justice System announced – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 1st, 2016 in bias, criminal justice, equality, press releases, race discrimination, statistics by tracey

‘The Prime Minister has asked David Lammy MP to investigate evidence of possible bias against black defendants and other ethnic minorities.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 31st January 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Heterosexual couple lose civil partnership court challenge – BBC News

Posted January 29th, 2016 in civil partnerships, equality, marriage, news by tracey

‘A heterosexual couple who want to have a civil partnership rather than get married have lost a legal challenge.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Higher education reform much-needed, but government must take time to get the framework right, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 20th, 2016 in constitutional reform, consultations, disabled persons, diversity, education, equality, insolvency, names, news, ombudsmen, Privy Council, universities by sally

‘Reforming higher education in England is both long overdue, and vitally needed to protect the sector’s hard-won reputation.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th January 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Bar regulator seeks women’s experiences at the Bar, launches survey – The Bar Council

Posted January 13th, 2016 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, women by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has launched a survey today to better understand women’s experiences of the equality rules of the BSB Handbook.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 12th January 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Number of female applicants for QC still stubbornly low, selectors say – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2016 in diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘The number of women applying for Queen’s Counsel remains “stubbornly low”, the appointments panel has said, after promoting 25 female barristers and solicitor advocates among a total of 107.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Landlords in England get ready for right to rent – Home Office

Posted January 11th, 2016 in codes of practice, consultations, equality, human rights, immigration, landlord & tenant, local government, press releases, rent by tracey

‘Landlords in England are being reminded that there is less than a month to go before “right to rent” rules go live.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th January 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Disabled workers can’t afford justice to deal with workplace harassment – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2016 in budgets, disability discrimination, disabled persons, employment, employment tribunals, equality, fees, harassment, legal aid, news, statistics by sally

‘Since the government introduced fees for employment tribunals, together with legal aid cuts, disabled people have increasingly been unable to have their cases heard.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Social background determines career prospects, say almost nine out of ten law students – Legal Week

Posted December 14th, 2015 in diversity, equality, law firms, legal education, legal profession, news, statistics by sally

‘Survey of law students finds strong feelings on influence of upbringing on career prospects, as law firms take new approaches to improve diversity’

Full story

Legal Week, 10th December 2015

Source: www.legalweek.com

MoJ urged to probe impact of ‘religion-based law’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2015 in codes of practice, equality, gender, Islam, Judaism, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice should issue guidance to ensure that religious and cultural tribunals comply with UK standards on gender equality and judicial independence, according to a high-profile commission into the role of religion and society.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th December 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judicial system should be “more ready to accommodate academics”, Lord Neuberger says – Litigation Futures

Posted December 9th, 2015 in disabled persons, diversity, equality, gender, judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The judicial system should be “more ready to accommodate academics” who were “more notable for their quality than for their quantity”, Lord Neuberger has said.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 9th December 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The Human Genome and Human Rights recommendations: “aspirational and symbolic” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 7th, 2015 in codes of practice, DNA, equality, human rights, medical ethics, news by sally

‘The International Bioethics Committee, under the auspices of UNESCO, has recently updated its guidance on the human genome and human rights. The Report of the IBC on Updating its Reflection on the Human Genome and Human Rights was published in October 2015, and takes into account the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997), the International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (2003) and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). The following summary is based on Alison Hall’s review of the recommendations in the PHG Foundation’s bulletin.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

What’s all the fuss about the Lord’s prayer? Emma Fenelon – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advertising, Church of England, equality, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘“I find your lack of faith disturbing” (Darth Vader). Digital Cinema Media (DCM), the media agency that supplies adverts to 80% of UK cinemas caused consternation last week when it announced its refusal to show a 60-second advert by the Church of England encouraging people to pray. The ad would have been guaranteed a sizable audience had it been permitted to air as planned before the upcoming Star Wars: the Force Awakens, advance ticket sales for which have broken all known records.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Are firms discriminating against you because of age? Here’s how to check – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 25th, 2015 in age discrimination, complaints, elderly, equality, financial services ombudsman, insurance, mortgages, news by sally

‘We look at how the ombudsman deals with complaints about age discrimination.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Partner of transgender woman found dead in prison calls for law change – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2015 in death in custody, equality, gender, news, prisons by sally

‘The partner of a transgender woman found dead in an all male prison after telling friends she would kill herself if she was sent there has said he contacted prison authorities to warn them about her vulnerability.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Yes you can discriminate against a company (but you shouldn’t!) – No. 5 Chambers

Posted November 12th, 2015 in age discrimination, appeals, company law, employment, equality, law firms, news, solicitors, tribunals by sally

‘How odd, you might think. A company can suffer a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 and so bring a claim for direct discrimination. Yet a company is impersonal and protected characteristics are highly personal that only individuals can have. How can that be?’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 8th October 2015

Source: www.no5.com

Man wins ‘silent homophobia’ case – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 30th, 2015 in compensation, equality, homosexuality, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘The unnamed man was awarded £7500 in compensation under the Equality Act.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Insisting on a 2:1 degree for barristers “could discriminate against BAME students” – Legal Futures

Posted October 29th, 2015 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, examinations, legal education, news, universities by sally

‘Insisting on an upper second class degree for future barristers could impose a “discriminatory burden” on BAME students, who are less likely to obtain them, a leading academic has argued in response to a Bar Standards Board (BSB) consultation that raises the possibility.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 29th October 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice – Temple Women’s Forum

Posted October 21st, 2015 in diversity, equality, judges, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news, statistics, women by sally

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice (PDF)

Temple Women’s Forum, 19th October 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by President of the Queen’s Bench Division: Justice for the 21st Century – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted October 12th, 2015 in constitutional history, constitutional law, constitutional reform, courts, diversity, equality, internet, judges, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, legal history, news, parliament, statistics by tracey

‘Sir Brian Leveson, President of the Queen’s Bench Division gave the Caroline Weatherill Lecture “Justice for the 21st Century” in the Isle of Man on 9 October 2015.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judicairy, 12th October 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk