Category: United Nations

Human rights and business: is international law relevant? – OUP Blog

Posted December 19th, 2016 in company law, human rights, international law, news, United Nations by sally

‘Corporations are now widely seen as having responsibilities in regard to human rights abuses. This was thrown starkly onto the front pages recently when a number of high profile UK companies, including M&S and Asos, were caught up in allegations of child refugees from Syria working in very poor conditions for clothing suppliers based in Turkey. They are just one of many instances around the world where corporations have been shown to be involved in human rights abuses.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 19th December 2016

Source: www.blog.oup.com

It’s time to decriminalize drugs, commission report says – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in crime, drug abuse, drug offences, health, news, reports, United Nations by sally

‘World leaders called for the decriminalization of drugs on Monday, in a report released by a commission that includes the former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and former presidents of Colombia, Mexico and Brazil.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The UN Just Criticised The UK’s Record On Disability Rights – RightsInfo

Posted November 16th, 2016 in benefits, disabled persons, human rights, legal aid, news, reports, social services, United Nations by sally

‘The UK government’s welfare reform policy has resulted in systematic violations of the human rights of disabled persons, according to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.’

Full story

RightsInfo, 14th November 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

UN: ‘Grave’ disability rights violations under UK reforms – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2016 in disabled persons, human rights, news, reports, United Nations by sally

‘UK welfare reforms have led to “grave and systematic violations” of disabled people’s rights, a UN inquiry has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 7th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK failing on many human rights measures, report claims – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2016 in children, human rights, news, prisons, refugees, reports, stop and search, United Nations by sally

‘The UK has failed to meet many human rights recommendations made by the United Nations and should do more to prevent prison overcrowding, tackle hate crimes and restrict stop and search powers, a coalition of 175 civil society organisations claims.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Know Your ECHR From Your UDHR… These Are The Key Documents Which Protect Our Human Rights – RightsInfo

Posted September 1st, 2016 in EC law, human rights, news, treaties, United Nations by sally

‘On 3 September 2016, the European Convention on Human Rights celebrates 63 years since coming into effect. To mark the anniversary, we are taking a look at the Convention and other powerful documents which protect our rights. How do they work and which, if any, is the most important?’

Full story

RightsInfo, 31st August 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

We ignored the rule of law – the result was Iraq – The Guardian

Posted July 7th, 2016 in attorney general, illegality, inquiries, international law, Iraq, news, reports, rule of law, United Nations, war by sally

‘By acting in defiance of the UN charter, as I warned when I was a Foreign Office lawyer in 2003, we put our reputation at risk. So it has proved.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Chilcot Report – an Illegal War? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 7th, 2016 in armed forces, attorney general, evidence, human rights, illegality, inquiries, Iraq, news, United Nations, war, weapons by sally

‘More than 7 years after Gordon Brown first announced that a public Inquiry would be conducted to identify lessons that could be learned from the Iraq conflict, the Chilcot report was finally published on7 July 2016. However, it was worth the wait. This post does not seek to summarise the report: there are many other good overviews (such as the BBC’s ). The report’s executive summary, in particular the key findings section, is also well worth a read. The intention is to cover in this and subsequent posts some of the key legal issues raised by the report. This post considers the relevance of the Chilcot report’s findings to the broader issue of whether Britain’s intervention in Iraq was legal – an issue which was not itself within the remit of the inquiry.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 7th July 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government austerity policy a breach of international human rights, says UN report- The Independent

Posted June 30th, 2016 in human rights, immigration, news, reports, taxation, United Nations by tracey

‘The British Government’s austerity policies are a breach of international human rights, a new report by the UN has warned.’

Full story

The Independent, 29th June 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

If the Chilcot report finds the Iraq invasion violated the UN Charter, what are the consequences? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted June 28th, 2016 in inquiries, international courts, Iraq, news, reports, treaties, United Nations, war by sally

‘The Chilcot report, when published next month, will surely criticise some of those responsible for launching the Iraq war on 20 March 2003 and for the suffering and damage which it caused. Lawyers are certainly already mulling over the prospect of litigation, criminal as well as civil.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 27th June 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Business And Human Rights… More Than Lofty Rhetoric? – RightsInfo

Posted June 15th, 2016 in data protection, environmental protection, health & safety, human rights, news, United Nations by sally

‘This Thursday, it will be five years since the United Nations Human Rights Council first adopted the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This post argues that while the UK has demonstrated its commitment to these principles and the protection of human rights in business, there is still room for improvement.’

Full story

RightsInfo, 13th June 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Equality watchdog warns junior doctors’ contract is potentially illegal – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2016 in contract of employment, doctors, equality, industrial action, news, sex discrimination, United Nations by tracey

‘The new contract ministers plan to force on NHS junior doctors discriminates against female medics and is potentially illegal, Britain’s equality watchdog has told the government.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

An absence of fairness: the Trade Union Bill – OUP Blog

Posted April 5th, 2016 in bills, industrial action, news, reports, trade unions, United Nations by sally

‘According to Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Trade Union Bill currently before Parliament is “not a ban on strike action. This is about ensuring that our rules are modern and right and fit for today’s workplace”. As the Bill progresses through the House of Lords, Mr Javid’s rosy view has been challenged by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the UN supervisory body responsible for scrutiny of compliance with international labour standards.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 5th April 2016

Source: http://blog.oup.com

Julian Assange: UN panel calls on UK and Sweden to end ‘arbitrary detention’ and compensate WikiLeaks founder – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2016 in detention, embassies, extradition, freedom of movement, news, United Nations by tracey

‘Julian Assange must be freed from “arbitrary detention” by the UK and Sweden, the United Nations has ruled.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family of hate preacher linked to ‘Jihadi John’ win right to UK citizenship – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 7th, 2015 in asylum, citizenship, deportation, families, human rights, Islam, news, ombudsmen, terrorism, United Nations by sally

‘Hani al-Sibai has been on a terror sanctions list since 2005 and resisted deportation to his native Egypt for almost 20 years – but the High Court has ruled his family should be given UK citizenship.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UN torture investigator says UK plan to scrap Human Rights Act is ‘dangerous’ – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2015 in asylum, deportation, human rights, immigration, jurisdiction, news, refugees, Supreme Court, torture, United Nations by sally

‘The UN special rapporteur on torture has accused David Cameron of a “cold-hearted ” approach to the migration crisis, warning that plans to scrap the Human Rights Act risk subverting international obligations designed to protect people fleeing persecution.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Who, What, Why: When is it legal to kill your own citizens? – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2015 in armed forces, international law, news, self-defence, terrorism, United Nations by sally

‘Two British jihadists from the Islamic State group were killed by a RAF drone strike in Syria. What’s the legal status of the attack?’

Full story

BBC News, 8th September 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UN urges UK to make smacking illegal – BBC News

Posted July 24th, 2015 in child abuse, children, corporal punishment, news, United Nations by sally

‘The UK should pass laws to ban parents from smacking their children at home, a United Nations report has suggested.’

Full story

BBC News, 24th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Britain told to review counter-terrorism powers by UN human rights committee – The Guardian

Posted July 24th, 2015 in detention, human rights, investigatory powers, news, privacy, terrorism, United Nations by sally

‘Britain should review its key counter-terrorism powers and revise laws on snooping by security services, a UN report has suggested.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Smacking must be banned to bring UK into line with international law – report to UN insists – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 1st, 2015 in child abuse, children, corporal punishment, international law, news, reports, United Nations by sally

‘Report compiled for UN by Government’s children’s tsars demands “immediate repeal” of laws allowing parents to hit their children.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk