Understanding the fight over trans rights part 2 – The Guardian

Posted October 9th, 2020 in birth certificates, equality, gender, Ireland, news, transgender persons by sally

‘Last month the equalities minister, Liz Truss, announced that some reforms to the Gender Recognition Act would go ahead but one key aspect – allowing trans people to self-identify without a medical diagnosis – would not be adopted. The issue has divided ‘gender critical’ feminists from those who are more trans-inclusive. Is there a route to reconciliation?’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Understanding the fight over trans rights part 1 – The Guardian

Posted October 9th, 2020 in birth certificates, equality, gender, news, podcasts, Scotland, transgender persons by sally

‘Stephen Whittle has been at the heart of trans activism for half a century. He discusses the legal and political progress that has been made over the past few decades while the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent Libby Brooks examines why there was a backlash over the 2015 Gender Recognition Act, which proposed a further expansion of trans rights.’

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The Guardian, 8th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog investigates Met officers over Bianca Williams’ treatment – The Guardian

‘Five police officers are under disciplinary investigation after they stopped and handcuffed the British athlete Bianca Williams and her partner, the police watchdog has announced.’

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The Guardian, 8th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council: Positive action like ‘preferential briefing’ can aid diversity – Legal Futures

Posted October 7th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pupillage, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘Positive action – such as giving female barristers preferential access to briefs after returning to chambers from career breaks – can bring about real change in addressing under-representation at the Bar, the Bar Council has said.’

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Legal Futures, 7th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court President Lord Reed wants more diversity in Supreme Court – BBC News

‘The new Supreme Court president says he hopes a justice from an ethnic minority background will be appointed before his retirement in six years’ time. Lord Reed said the lack of diversity among the 12 Supreme Court justices was a situation “which cannot be allowed to become shameful if it persists”.’

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BBC News, 5th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK barrister mistaken for defendant calls for compulsory anti-racism training – The Guardian

‘The barrister who was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day at court has called for compulsory anti-racism training at every level of the UK legal system.’

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The Guardian, 26th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dozens of Asian lawyers say they have been mistaken for defendants – The Guardian

‘More than 20 Asian lawyers have come forward to say they have been mistaken for defendants in court, in the same week that the black barrister Alexandra Wilson said the same had happened to her three times in a day.’

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The Guardian, 25th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission’s consultation on marriage reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

‘When most couples start planning a wedding, they excitedly think about the day itself – what they will wear, who they will invite and of course, where they want to get married.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th September 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Muslim man wins UK tribunal case over Cognac raffle switch – The Guardian

‘A Muslim man who worked at a country house hotel has successfully sued his employer for religious harassment after he won a bottle of Cognac in a raffle at a staff party but was given a “cheap” box of chocolates instead.’

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The Guardian, 24th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK ‘Misses Opportunity’ To Reform Legal Recognition For Trans People – Each Other

Posted September 24th, 2020 in equality, gender, news, transgender persons by sally

‘Trans people in England and Wales will continue to be “forced through harmful processes” if they wish to have their gender recognised under a law the UK government has decided not to update, human rights groups have warned.’

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Each Other, 22nd September 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Changes to gender recognition laws ruled out – BBC News

‘Ministers have ruled out changes to make it easier for transgender people in England and Wales to have their gender legally recognised.’

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BBC News, 22nd September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Misogyny ‘should become a hate crime in England and Wales’ – The Guardian

‘Misogyny should be made a hate crime in England and Wales, according to the independent body that recommends legal changes, as part of an overhaul of legislation.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Message from the Lord Chief Justice: Diversity of the judiciary – 2020 statistics – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

‘I welcome publication of the Judicial Diversity Forum’s combined statistical report. It brings together data on the diversity of the judiciary, judicial appointments and from the relevant professional bodies (the Law Society, the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).’

Full press release

Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 17th September 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Gender-fluid engineer wins landmark UK discrimination case – The Guardian

‘Judge decides that there is protection for non-binary people under the Equality Act.’

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The Guardian, 17th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office’s £400m immigration unit bases policies on ‘assumptions and prejudice’, MPs warn – The Independent

Posted September 18th, 2020 in diversity, enforcement, equality, government departments, immigration, news by tracey

‘The Home Office appears to be formulating its immigration policies on “anecdote, assumption and prejudice” rather than evidence, MPs have warned.’

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The Independent, 18th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Do black lives matter in the employment justice system? – Garden Court Chambers

‘Paper produced by Mukhtiar Singh of the Garden Court Employment and Discrimination Law Team.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 14th September 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

BSB: Exams problems “worse than thought” as it rejects alternative plan – Legal Futures

Posted September 14th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, equality, examinations, internet, legal education, news by tracey

‘Problems with the Bar exams were far more extensive than previously reported, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has admitted as it announced traditional “pen and paper” resits next month.’

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Legal Futures, 14th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB announces new opportunities to sit Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) exams – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 14th, 2020 in equality, internet, press releases by tracey

‘The Director General of the Bar Standards Board has repeated his apology to students who were affected by the technical difficulties which they faced in sitting their BPTC exams in August. Further to his previous announcement on 18 August, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has also today announced that course providers will be offering new opportunities to sit the centralised BPTC and Bar Transfer Test (BTT) assessments in Professional Ethics and Civil and Criminal Litigation in the traditional pen and paper format starting from 5 October.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 11th September 2020

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Disabled homeless man wins ‘no DSS’ case against estate agency – The Guardian

‘A homeless father of four with disabilities who was refused the chance to rent a private flat because he fell foul of the estate agents’ “no DSS” rules was unlawfully discriminated against, a court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ensuring the lawfulness of automated facial recognition surveillance in the UK – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In R(Bridges) v South Wales Police, the England and Wales Court of Appeal reviewed the lawfulness of the use of live automated facial recognition technology (‘AFR’) by the South Wales Police Force. CCTV camera­­s capture images of the public, which are then compared with digital images of persons on a watchlist.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 3rd September 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk