Are there principles that trump democracy? The Reith Lectures, 2019: Lord Sumption’s Lecture and Responses – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 30th, 2019 in constitutional law, human rights, judges, news, rule of law by sally

‘Are there principles that trump democracy? This was one of a number of profound philosophical and legal questions addressed by former UK Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumption in his recent and controversial Reith Lectures, which addressed subjects such an law’s expanding empire, the challenges posed by human rights, and the advantage of an unwritten constitution.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th July 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Liberty loses high court challenge to snooper’s charter – The Guardian

‘The human rights group Liberty has lost its latest high court challenge against the government’s mass surveillance powers.’

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The Guardian, 29th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court rejects libel claim over email sent by in-house lawyer – Legal Futures

Posted July 30th, 2019 in defamation, electronic mail, fraud, hospitals, human rights, news, privacy, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has rejected a libel claim by a woman who an in-house lawyer suggested in an email had potentially acted fraudulently.’

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Legal Futures, 30th July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Atheist parents take primary school to court as they say assembly prayers breach children’s human rights – Daily Telegraph

‘Atheist parents are taking their children’s primary school to the High Court, claiming that biblical re-enactments and praying in assembly are a breach of their human rights.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th July 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Capacity to consent to sexual relations: obscurity illuminated? – Transparency Project

‘The intimate life of a woman, who is known to the public only by the initials NB, is the subject of a case in the Court of Protection which attracted headlines earlier this year. A further judgment has recently been published, following an interim judgment published in May.’

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Transparency Project, 23rd July 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Boris Johnson: What Is The Next Prime Minister’s Human Rights Record? – Rights Info

‘Boris Johnson has been named the new leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.’

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Rigths Info, 23rd July 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

UK Heatwave: What Are Your Rights At Work? – Rights Info

‘With temperatures soaring in the UK, workplaces can become uncomfortable and, some argue, downright dangerous. While some may sit smugly in air-conditioned offices, others are not so lucky. What are your workplace rights when the mercury rises?’

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Rights Info, 24th July 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Police must offer women detainees period products under new rules – BBC News

Posted July 24th, 2019 in codes of practice, detention, equality, health, human rights, news, ombudsmen, police, women by sally

‘Police in England and Wales must offer female detainees free sanitary products in case they are on their period while in custody, under new legislation.’

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BBC News, 23rd July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child covert intelligence lawful, says the High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 23rd, 2019 in children, human rights, investigatory powers, news, privacy, young persons by sally

‘In rejecting the claim of Just for Kids Law, Mr Justice Supperstone affirmed that the legal framework for deploying juvenile covert human intelligence sources (JCHIS) was lawful and adequately safeguarded the child’s welfare.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd July 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

MPs call for 10-year limit on prosecution of soldiers – The Guardian

‘A 10-year “qualified statute of limitations” should be introduced to protect veterans and serving armed forces personnel from reinvestigation for alleged crimes, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman wins right to late partner’s military pension in landmark ruling – BBC News

‘A woman has won the right to her late partner’s military pension in a landmark ruling for unmarried couples.’

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BBC News, 17th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tommy Robinson Is Jailed For Contempt Of Court: Here’s What It Means – Rights Info

‘Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been jailed for nine months after being found guilty of contempt of court.’

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Rights Info, 11th July 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court – BBC News

‘The ex-English Defence League leader was found guilty last week of interfering with the trial of a sexual grooming gang at Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.’

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BBC News, 11th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women’s World Cup: Unequal Prize Money ‘A Human Rights Breach’, Says Lawyers – Rights Info

Posted July 9th, 2019 in human rights, news, remuneration, sport, women by sally

‘FIFA is likely breaching its own human rights policies by awarding women footballers only 7.5 percent of the prize money men receive, legal experts say.’

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Rights Info, 9th July 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Poverty in the UK is violating human rights. What’s next? – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted July 9th, 2019 in human rights, news, poverty, reports by sally

‘Last week, we presented the findings of our investigation into poverty in the United Kingdom to the UN Human Rights Council. Some have asked why the UN Special Rapporteur on poverty would visit the UK, the fifth largest economy in the world. But 14 million people live in poverty, and in recent years the UK has seen a rise in poverty among many groups, including children and pensioners, as well as alarming increases in homelessness, foodbanks, and in-work poverty. Since 2010, widespread and regressive cuts to social support under the rubric of austerity have made life worse for too many and have violated the UK’s human rights obligations.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 5th July 2019

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

The lawyer who wants more academics to ‘come out’ as working class – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2019 in diversity, equality, human rights, news, universities by sally

‘The founder of the Association of Working Class Academics is fighting for class to be recognised in equality law as well as race and gender.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Social housing and religion: R (Z & Anor) – Law & Religion UK

‘A non-Jewish woman, Z, had four children, including a son with autism. She was at the top of Hackney Council’s list for a four-bedroom home in the area. The co-defendant, the Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA), was founded in 1986 to provide social housing for Orthodox Jews in north London: it does not accept applications from anyone outside the Orthodox community. Six four-bedroom properties owned by AIHA became available but Ms Z was not allowed to apply for one of them. She sought judicial review of that refusal, arguing that it was unlawful and discriminatory for the AIHA to refuse her a home. As we noted, in R (Z & Ors) v Hackney London Borough Council & Anor [2019] EWHC 139 (Admin), a Divisional Court dismissed her claim, holding that a Jewish housing association might legitimately refuse to rent houses to those who were not Orthodox Jews. Z appealed.’

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Law & Religion UK, 5th July 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Case Comment: R (DA & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2019] UKSC 21 Part Two – UKSC Blog

Posted July 8th, 2019 in appeals, benefits, equality, families, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘In order to make good an art 14 claim, a claimant has to establish that (a) the Jones_Jcircumstances fall within the ambit of a substantive Convention right, (b) the claimant has a relevant status for the purposes of art 14, (c) they have been treated differently from others in a similar situation, by reason of their status; if so the burden is then on the state to demonstrate (d) whether the difference in treatment is objectively justified. In a Thlimmenos claim, the third question becomes “they have been treated the same as others in a relevantly different situation”. The way in which those issues were resolved by Lord Wilson for the majority is summarised above, but the court’s analysis of status and justification is worth some closer consideration.’

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UKSC Blog, 2nd July 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Case Comment: R (DA & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2019] UKSC 21 Part One – UKSC Blog

Posted July 8th, 2019 in appeals, benefits, equality, families, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘In these joined appeals, the Supreme Court considered whether the “revised benefit Jones_Jcap” – the effect of which is to restrict the maximum amount of benefits payable to couples and lone parents to £23000 in London and £20000 elsewhere – discriminated against the lone parents of young children, and against the children themselves. The Supreme Court decided by a majority of 5-2 that it did not, though there were various differences of opinion even amongst the majority.’

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UKSC Blog, 2nd July 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Governments and firms in 28 countries sued over climate crisis – report – The Guardian

‘Climate action lawsuits against governments and corporations have spread across 28 countries, according to a new analysis.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com