Category: equality

Employment law: Dealing with race discrimination complaints following the Black Lives Matter movement – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted June 29th, 2020 in chambers articles, disciplinary procedures, employment, equality, harassment, internet, news, professional conduct, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘The recent tragic death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has highlighted the need to tackle race discrimination in the workplace. Many businesses both in the UK and worldwide have made public statements reinforcing their commitment to equality and the BLM movement. Just as the #MeToo movement raised awareness of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, recent events should be the catalyst for a renewed emphasis on preventing and tackling race discrimination and ensuring that BAME employees are supported in the workplace.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 19th June 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Judgment in Challenge to Exclusion of Workers From Sick Pay & Income Protection During Pandemic- Old Square Chambers

Posted June 26th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, EC law, employment, equality, human rights, judicial review, news, sick leave by sally

‘On 15 June 2020 the High Court handed down its expedited judgment in R (Adiatu & IWGB) v HM Treasury [2020] EWHC 1554 (Admin).’

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Old Square Chambers, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

EP 117: Systemic Racial Inequality – Windrush and the Bar – Martin Forde QC – Law Pod UK

Posted June 26th, 2020 in barristers, citizenship, colonies, deportation, documents, equality, government departments, immigration, news, podcasts, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘In Episode 117, Emma-Louise Fenelon talks to Martin Forde QC on systemic racial inequality relating to Windrush, immigration history and at the Bar.’

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Law Pod UK, 25th June 2020

Source: audioboom.com

UK’s facial recognition technology ‘breaches privacy rights’ – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2020 in appeals, data protection, equality, facial mapping, human rights, investigatory powers, news, police, privacy, race discrimination by sally

‘Automated facial recognition technology that searches for people in public places breaches privacy rights and will “radically” alter the way Britain is policed, the court of appeal has been told.’

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The Guardian, 23rd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA to launch project on BAME student underachievement – Legal Futures

Posted June 22nd, 2020 in diversity, equality, legal education, legal profession, news, race discrimination, Solicitors Regulation Authority, statistics by sally

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is set to begin a multi-year project to increase understanding of why Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students perform worse than white students.’

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Legal Futures, 19th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Your chambers aren’t colour blind, top QC tells barristers – Legal Futures

Posted June 22nd, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal profession, news, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘Barristers who believe their chambers are “colour-blind” and treat everyone the same “have a problem” and need to change their mindset, a high-profile black QC has said.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB defends online exams after students raise discrimination concerns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 19th, 2020 in barristers, carers, coronavirus, disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, examinations, internet, legal education, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board has defended its decision to move exams online, saying “there was simply not enough time” to consult widely about the change. Students have claimed the computer-based assessments will discriminate against women, carers and disabled candidates.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th June 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK police chiefs criticised for lack of action as race panel launched – The Guardian

Posted June 19th, 2020 in bias, equality, news, police, proportionality, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘An attempt by police chiefs to grapple with racism claims by launching a panel to recommend action has been criticised by victims’ representatives and met with scepticism from within their own ranks.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Racism and the Rule of Law – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 19th, 2020 in equality, human rights, news, police, race discrimination, racism, rule of law by sally

‘The Black Lives Matter movement illuminates an incontrovertible chasm in the application of the rule of law in liberal democracy. The basic premise of the rule of law, which in Joseph Raz’s conception is that it should be capable of guiding behaviour, includes the necessary restriction on crime-preventing agencies from perverting the law. A society in which those tasked with upholding and applying the law – under the powers of stop-and-search and arrest – are instead themselves regular perpetrators of racist discrimination and violence, is one in which the rule of law is at best a randomised hope that is more or less likely to be realised depending on the race of the citizen in question.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Home Office to face legal challenge over ‘digital hostile environment’ – The Guardian

Posted June 19th, 2020 in artificial intelligence, equality, government departments, immigration, internet, judicial review, news, race discrimination, visas by sally

‘Immigrants’ rights campaigners are to bring the first court case of its kind in British legal history in an attempt to turn off what they claim is a decision-making algorithm that creates a “hostile environment” for people applying for UK visas online.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EHRC reports on inclusive justice – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 17th, 2020 in chambers articles, criminal justice, disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, Equality and Human Rights Commission, inquiries, news by sally

‘Ten years after the Equality Act came into force, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published their findings and recommendations in a report entitled “Inclusive Justice: a system designed for all”. Although the report recognises where progress has been made, it also identifies very significant problems.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Police in England and Wales six times more likely to fine BAME people in lockdown – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, equality, fines, news, police, race discrimination, statistics by sally

‘Police enforcing the coronavirus lockdown in England and Wales were more than six times more likely to issue fines to black, Asian and minority ethnic people than white people, figures show.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Where are my black sisters? The intersection of religion, race and gender in the AAP legal community – Garden Court North Chambers

Posted June 17th, 2020 in chambers articles, diversity, equality, Islam, legal profession, news, race discrimination, racism, religious discrimination, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘I am a hijabi (head-scarf wearing Muslim) Palestinian-British lawyer who has worked in the progressive Inquests/Actions Against the Police (AAP) field for the past 7 years. I started out as a paralegal, became a solicitor and am now a pupil barrister. I have met, or know of, many of the lawyers whose talent and (often unpaid) hard work props up this niche but vital corner of the legal system. Working as an AAP lawyer is beyond rewarding and the people you get to meet, clients and colleagues, are inspiring. As a hijabi AAP lawyer, this area can also be isolating and unwelcoming at times.’

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Garden Court North Chambers, 15th June 2020

Source: gcnchambers.co.uk

Triaging Coronavirus treatment – (3) the Guidance and discrimination – Cloisters

Posted June 16th, 2020 in age discrimination, coronavirus, disability discrimination, disabled persons, elderly, equality, medical treatment, news by sally

As part of our series considering the human rights and equality implications of Covid-19, Catherine Casserley and Declan O’Dempsey consider BMA Guidance on the use of characteristics of age and disability in medical triage in the light of discrimination law. This article considers the impact of discrimination law on the guidance.

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Cloisters, 9th June 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Fight for Grenfell inquiry to look at racial stereotyping goes on – The Guardian

Posted June 16th, 2020 in equality, fire, health & safety, inquiries, minorities, news by sally

‘Campaigners believe bias and inequality were factors in high number of BAME deaths in fire.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Racism contributed to disproportionate UK BAME coronavirus deaths, inquiry finds – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, equality, government departments, inquiries, news, race discrimination, racism, statistics by sally

‘Racism and discrimination suffered by Britain’s black, Asian and minority ethnic people has contributed to the high death rates from Covid-19 in those communities, an official inquiry has found.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Youth justice: exposing a system that is failing our most vulnerable children – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2020 in children, criminal justice, diversity, equality, news, race discrimination, racism, statistics, young offenders, young persons by sally

‘Children in the Dock was an investigation into the youth justice system in England and Wales that involved the Guardian’s Manchester team spending a month monitoring every case at Greater Manchester youth court. Among other things, they found that the proportion of BAME children in court had doubled in eight years, and revealed that youth cases now take 40% longer than in 2010.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EHRC urges compulsory disability training for lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted June 15th, 2020 in barristers, criminal justice, disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, Equality and Human Rights Commission, HM Courts Service, legal education, legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority, statistics by sally

‘Disability awareness should be a professional requirement, and a mandatory element of criminal lawyers’ CPD, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has recommended.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Matt Hancock faces legal action from daughter of Covid-19 care home victim – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2020 in bereavement, care homes, coronavirus, duty of care, elderly, equality, families, government departments, hospitals, judicial review, news by sally

‘Matt Hancock is facing legal action from the daughter of a man who died from Covid-19 in a care home in which the health secretary is accused of a “litany of failures” and misleading the public with his claim to have “thrown a protective ring” around care homes.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What It’s Like Being A Black Lawyer Working In The UK’s Criminal Justice System In 2020 – Elle Magazine

Posted June 12th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, criminal justice, diversity, equality, fines, legal profession, news, police, race discrimination, racism, statistics, stop and search by sally

‘Abimbola Johnson is a Black criminal defence barrister, whose experience of the justice system in the UK brings recent events in the US even closer to home.’

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Elle Magazine, 5th June 2020

Source: www.elle.com