Category: equality

Is it legal to teach gay hate in schools? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 20th, 2012 in education, equality, homosexuality, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“Following the news recently it would seem that the UK is convulsed by a raging battle between religious observers and, in the words of Baroness Warsi, militant secularists. On the same day, the High Court ruled that Christian prayers held before a council meeting were unlawful, and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the High Court that two Christian hotel owners had discriminated against gay clients by not offering them a double room.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 19th February 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Teenage students lose high court battle to overturn tuition fees rise – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 17th, 2012 in equality, fees, human rights, judicial review, news, universities by sally

“Two students, Callum Hurley and Katy Moore, have failed in their High Court attempt to overturn the Government’s decision to allow universities to almost treble tuition fees.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tuition fees ruling could question legality of university charges – The Guardian

Posted February 17th, 2012 in education, equality, fees, human rights, judicial review, news, universities by sally

“The high court is to rule on whether ministers acted legally in allowing universities to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year from this autumn.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Public Sector Equality Duty – what does it mean and how does it work? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted February 15th, 2012 in equality, government departments, local government, news by sally

“This paper deals with the present state of the law concerning the Public Sector Quality Duty (‘the PSED’) and how public bodies are required to act in order to comply with the duty.”

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 6th February 2012

Source: www.no5.com

Lord Justice Moses and the 161 criteria – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2012 in advocacy, diversity, equality, judiciary, news, quality assurance by sally

“Judges know the new ratings scheme for advocates is misconceived and over-elaborate. But they don’t want anyone else doing it.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unmarried couples should have inheritance rights, say law advisers – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 14th, 2011 in cohabitation, equality, families, intestacy, news, wills by sally

“Unmarried couples who live together for five years will automatically take their partner’s entire estate if they die without a will, under proposals from the Government’s law advisers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Trevor Phillips attacks ‘bonkers’ use of Human Rights Act – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 12th, 2011 in equality, human rights, minorities, news by sally

“Trevor Phillips, the head of Britain’s equality watchdog, has attacked the ‘thoroughly bonkers’ misuse of the Human Rights Act – and warned that it must not become the ‘exclusive property of minorities’.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th December 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Royal Navy will allow women to serve on submarines – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2011 in armed forces, equality, news, women by tracey

“One of the last barriers to women being treated equally in the armed forces was lifted on Thursday when the Ministry of Defence announced that they will soon be allowed to serve onboard Royal Navy submarines.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Strategy to drive out transgender prejudice – Home Office

Posted December 8th, 2011 in employment, equality, hate crime, medical treatment, press releases, school children by tracey

“Tougher sentences for hate crimes, support for transgender pupils in schools, and tailored recruitment advice for businesses are just some of the actions in the first transgender equality plan launched by the government today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 8th December 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

General, Equal and Certain: Law Reform Today and Tomorrow – Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of The Rolls

Posted November 30th, 2011 in equality, legislation, news, rule of law by sally

General, Equal and Certain: Law Reform Today and Tomorrow (PDF)

Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of The Rolls

Lord Renton Lecture 2011, 28th November 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

First choice among equals – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in diversity, equality, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“It’s far from clear the government’s proposed new panel will succeed in appointing more women and BAME judges.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges who jump to conclusions need ‘appraisals’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 17th, 2011 in equality, judiciary, news by tracey

“Judges need to be given ‘appraisals’ to point out where they are talking too much or jumping to conclusions, one of Britain’s top law chiefs has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th November 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Give women priority for top law jobs, urges judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 14th, 2011 in diversity, equality, judiciary, news, women by sally

“A senior judge has backed what critics regard as positive discrimination in an effort to change the domination of white men at the top of the judiciary.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th November 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Teenagers begin high court challenge against tuition fee rise – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2011 in education, equality, fees, human rights, judicial review, news, universities by sally

“Two teenagers have begun a case in the high court against the government’s decision to let universities almost treble tuition fees next year.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Royal women to get equal rights – The Independent

Posted October 28th, 2011 in equality, news, royal family, succession, women by tracey

“Female members of the Royal Family are to be given equality with men in the rules of succession to the throne, under historic constitutional changes agreed unanimously today by the 16 nations of which Queen Elizabeth II is monarch.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK supreme court’s only female judge calls for more diversity in appointments – The Guardian

Posted October 26th, 2011 in diversity, equality, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Lady Hale is the only woman justice to sit in the supreme court. She longs for female company – perhaps another three women judges, and is tired of being told that it is only ‘a matter of time’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Another cuts challenge fails: Changes to housing benefit scheme is lawful – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 17th, 2011 in benefits, equality, housing, news by sally

“On 13 October 2011 Mr Justice Supperstone in the High Court held that changes to rules for calculating housing benefit were lawful and in particular did not breach equality legislation.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 14th October 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Decisions, decisions: the best case scenario – The Guardian

Posted October 12th, 2011 in diversity, equality, inquiries, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Not every supreme court justice need be a judge – or even a barrister.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unfairly judged: gay lawyers say judiciary still plagued by homophobia – The Guardian

Posted October 7th, 2011 in diversity, equality, homosexuality, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“Recent research shows 70% believe there is prejudice within the selection process for judicial appointments.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Equality is vital for policing – Home Office

Posted September 13th, 2011 in equality, police, press releases by tracey

“The police enforce the law. That power brings great responsibility. The British way is for that power to be exercised through policing by consent. Policing by consent is even more important in the context of Britain’s diverse society. August’s riots underlined the importance of building and keeping trust in policing.  During the riots, we saw how much communities rely on the police.  As people came together to help in the clear up, we saw that active consent and public participation help the police restore and then maintain law and order. To fight crime successfully, the law needs to be applied even-handedly and with real understanding of the needs of all our communities.  Equality – always important – is particularly vital for policing.”

Full press release

Home Office, 12th September 2011

Source: www.homeoffice,gov.uk