Category: equality

McCloud Remedy – a Ground to Set Aside Financial Orders? – Family Law

Posted August 15th, 2022 in age discrimination, equality, family courts, government departments, news, pensions by tracey

‘Many will recall the McCloud judgment, in which the Court of Appeal determined that the transitional provisions in the Government’s 2015 public sector pension schemes were age discriminatory. In response to the judgment, the Government agreed to unravel these changes. Last year, the Government announced its solution known as the McCloud Remedy. But what does this mean for pension trustees? Do these circumstances amount to grounds to set aside a financial remedy order?’

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Family Law, 11th August 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Academy for aspiring barristers from under-represented groups goes live – Legal Futures

Posted August 11th, 2022 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘An academy scheme for aspiring barristers from under-represented groups has launched a year-long programme to give 100 students access to internships – including at the Supreme Court – mini-pupillages, mentoring and life coaching.’

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Legal Futures, 11th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK must curb influence of European human rights rules, says Braverman – The Guardian

Posted August 11th, 2022 in attorney general, brexit, equality, human rights, news by sally

‘Ministers should “take radical action” to counter the influence of European human rights rules to curb a burgeoning industry of highly paid equalities officers touting bogus grievances, Suella Braverman, the UK government’s chief law officer, has argued.’

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The Guardian, 10th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

IVF Access To Widen After Discrimination Case – Each Other

Posted August 9th, 2022 in artificial insemination, equality, families, homosexuality, human rights, news, pregnancy, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘Lesbians, bi women and some trans people will no longer have to pay more for IVF treatment after a landmark discrimination case. Lesbian couple Megan and Whitney Bacon-Evans launched a legal case showing that NHS England’s IVF policy discriminated against same-sex couples. Unlike heterosexual couples, some LGBTQ couples and single women have had to pay for artificial insemination to prove their fertility status before they can receive NHS help for IVF.’

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Each Other, 9th August 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Police racial bias played role in UK Covid fines regime, says report – The Guardian

Posted August 5th, 2022 in bias, coronavirus, equality, fines, news, police, race discrimination, racism by tracey

‘Bias in policing at least partly explains why minority ethnic people were more likely to receive fines for Covid breaches than their white counterparts, research says.’

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The Guardian, 5th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ageism and antisemitism in employment: Dooley – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 3rd, 2022 in age discrimination, compensation, contract of employment, employment, employment tribunals, equality, harassment, Judaism, news, race discrimination by tracey

‘A classic example of how not to treat staff (or simply how not to behave in any circumstances).’

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Law & Religion UK, 3rd August 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Discrimination and Freedom of Belief in the Sex and Gender Debate – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 3rd, 2022 in barristers, employment, employment tribunals, equality, freedom of expression, gender, human rights, news, transgender persons by tracey

‘We do not usually cover first-instance employment tribunal judgments on this blog, but two cases handed down in the last three weeks – Forstater v. CGD Europe and Bailey v. Stonewall Equality Ltd and Garden Court Chambers – have attracted so much attention that we feel an exception must be made. Both cases involved women with ‘gender critical’ beliefs who faced hostility in their workplaces after expressing them. Both succeeded in their claims of direct discrimination and victimisation on grounds of belief under the Equality Act 2010. Although neither of the cases sets a binding precedent for other courts or tribunals, they contain interesting legal analysis and comment about the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of belief in the context of work which is of wider significance.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd August 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

MPs call for menopause to be protected characteristic in UK Equality Act – The Guardian

Posted July 28th, 2022 in employment, equality, health, menopause, news, reports, women by sally

‘MPs have called for menopause to be a protected characteristic and for a special ambassador to keep women in the workplace, after a report showed the UK is currently “haemorrhaging talent”.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Allison Bailey: Barrister awarded £22,000 in discrimination case – BBC News

Posted July 27th, 2022 in barristers, compensation, damages, diversity, employment, employment tribunals, equality, freedom of expression, gender, news, transgender persons by sally

‘A barrister has won part of her employment tribunal claim that she was discriminated against because of her gender-critical views.’

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BBC News, 27th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

No-Fault Divorce: A Step Forward for the LGBTQ Community – Family Law

Posted July 22nd, 2022 in divorce, equality, families, homosexuality, news, sexual orientation discrimination by tracey

‘The introduction of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 on 6 April 2022, bringing in the long-awaited “no-fault divorce”, is considered to be one of the most significant reforms of family law in many years. Although not widely commented on, it also potentially signifies an important step for the LGBTQ community.’

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Family Law, 21st July 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Is The Prevent Programme Compatible With Human Rights? – Each Other

Posted July 19th, 2022 in equality, freedom of expression, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

‘Many organisations and individuals have criticised the government’s Prevent programme, which forms part of the UK counter-terrorism strategy.’

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Each Other, 18th July 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

BSB to probe if solicitors give clients choice when instructing barristers – Legal futures

Posted July 14th, 2022 in barristers, consumer protection, diversity, equality, legal representation, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to gather evidence from solicitors on how they choose a barrister, including whether they offer their clients a choice – or even take account of a client’s views.’

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Legal Futures, 14th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB publishes new Equality and Research Strategies – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 14th, 2022 in barristers, bullying, diversity, equality, harassment, news by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published a new Equality Strategy and a new Research Strategy.’

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Bar Standards Board, 13th July 2022

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Female doctors launch campaign against harassment in UK healthcare – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2022 in doctors, equality, harassment, hospitals, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by tracey

‘Female doctors have launched an online campaign that they say exposes shocking gender-based discrimination, harassment and sexual assault in healthcare.’

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The Guardian, 11th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Major change to taxi and private hire vehicle accessibility legislation comes into force – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 6th, 2022 in disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, local government, news, taxis by sally

‘The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 – described as “the most significant change to taxi accessibility legislation since the Equality Act was introduced 12 years ago” – has come into force.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Non-Binary Passports: R (on the application of Elan-Cane) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) [2021] UKSC 56 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 4th, 2022 in appeals, equality, gender, government departments, human rights, news, passports, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The Appellant in R (on the application of Elan-Cane) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) [2021] UKSC 56 was assigned female at birth, however during and after puberty they felt revulsion at their body and underwent surgery in 1989 and 1990 to alleviate those feelings. The Appellant who identifies as non-gendered, is a campaigner for the legal and social recognition of this category. The provision of “X passports” are a focal point of the Appellant’s campaign.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th July 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

ECHR dismisses discrimation claim against council housing policy for Orthodox Jewish community – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 4th, 2022 in equality, housing, human rights, Judaism, local government, news, references to European Court by tracey

‘A legal challenge claiming the London Borough of Hackney’s decision not to refer a mother to a housing association on the basis of her not being part of the Orthodox Jewish Community (OJC) has been unanimously dismissed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal Refuses Permission to Judicially Review Infected Blood Compensation Scheme – Quarterly Medical Law Review

Posted June 27th, 2022 in appeals, blood products, compensation, disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, judicial review, news by tracey

‘In a judgment handed down on 4 February 2022, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal for permission to apply for judicial review concerning the lawfulness of the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) (the “Scheme”). The Court of Appeal concluded that the Scheme’s exclusion of those infected with hepatitis B was not discriminatory. In any event, the Secretary of State’s justification for who was to be compensated under the ex gratia Scheme was to be given a wide margin of appreciation by the courts.’

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Quarterly Medical Law Review , 24th June 2022

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Crucifixes, neck-chains and food hygiene: Kovalkovs – Law & Religion UK

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in appeals, Christianity, compensation, employment, employment tribunals, equality, food, food hygiene, news, religious discrimination, unfair dismissal by sally

‘In Mr J Kovalkovs v 2 Sisters Food Group Limited [2022] UKET 4102454/2020, Mr Kovalkovs, an Orthodox Christian, was a quality inspector in 2 Sisters Food Group’s chicken processing factory. He wore a silver crucifix on a neck-chain as an expression of his faith. 2 Sisters’ Foreign Body Control policy stated that “jewellery must not be worn in the production areas on site, with the exception of a single plan band ring”. An exception was made for religious jewellery, subject to a risk assessment; however, the risk assessment concluded that “because the chain was made of links there was a risk of contamination” and there was a potential for “entanglement, entrapment or tearing”. Mr Kovalkovs refused to give up wearing his crucifix and was dismissed.’

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Law & Religion UK, 21st June 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

First openly gay judge to lead LGBT veterans probe – BBC News

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in armed forces, compensation, equality, homosexuality, inquiries, judges, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘Britain’s first openly gay senior judge will lead a review into the impact of a historical ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk