UN expert condemns UK crackdown on environmental protest – The Guardian

‘A severe crackdown on environmental protest in Britain with “draconian” new laws, excessive restrictions on courtroom evidence and the use of civil injunctions is having a chilling impact on fundamental freedoms, the United Nations special rapporteur has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ changes to indefinite jail sentences do not go far enough, says UN expert – The Guardian

‘A UN torture expert has said changes to the imprisonment for public protection (IPP) scheme in England and Wales do not go far enough and repeated her call for prisoners jailed under the indefinite sentencing regime to be granted release dates.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil protesters’ jail terms potentially breach international law, UN expert says – The Guardian

‘Long sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil protesters for scaling the M25 bridge over the Thames are a potential breach of international law and risk silencing public concerns about the environment, a UN expert has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Suella Braverman is wrong about the UN refugee convention being ‘not fit for purpose’ – here’s why – EIN Blog

Posted October 3rd, 2023 in immigration, news, refugees, treaties, United Nations by sally

‘The UK’s home secretary, Suella Braverman – the minister responsible for setting immigration policy – has said the United Nations refugee convention is not “fit for our modern age” and should be renegotiated.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 2nd October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

AI developing too fast for regulators to keep up, says Oliver Dowden – The Guardian

‘Artificial intelligence is developing too fast for regulators to keep up, the UK’s deputy prime minister is to announce as he aims to galvanise other countries to take the threat seriously in advance of the UK’s AI safety summit in November.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

TUC complains to UN watchdog over ‘undemocratic’ UK anti-strike law – The Guardian

‘The Trades Union Congress has lodged a complaint with the UN’s labour standards body claiming the UK government flouted the watchdog’s orders over its newly enforced “undemocratic” anti-strike law.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Refugee wins last-minute extradition reprieve after trying to return from holiday – The Guardian

Posted August 29th, 2023 in extradition, Italy, news, refugees, Russia, United Nations by sally

‘A refugee who was threatened with extradition when he tried to return to Britain after holidaying in Italy has won a last-minute reprieve.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal upholds challenge to Rwanda removals policy – an extended look – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 20th, 2023 in appeals, deportation, immigration, news, refugees, Rwanda, treaties, United Nations by tracey

‘R ((AAA) Syria and Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 745. The Claimants in this case are 10 individual asylum-seekers from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan and Albania who entered the UK irregularly by crossing the English Channel in small boats, together with one charity, Asylum Aid.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 19th July 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK response to UN Committee Against Torture’s list of issues – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 17th, 2023 in Ministry of Justice, news, torture, United Nations by tracey

‘The UN Committee Against Torture presented a List of Issues prior to submission of the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is part of the reporting cycle under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This paper is the response submitted by the UK government to the Committee.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

UNHCR: Illegal Migration Bill ‘extinguishes’ most refugees’ right to seek asylum – The Independent

‘The United Nations refugee agency’s representative to the UK has warned that the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill “effectively extinguishes the right to seek asylum in the UK for all but a very few refugees”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th March 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Asylum plan ‘very concerning’ and would break international law – UN refugee agency – BBC News

‘The government’s proposed asylum law is “very concerning” and would block even those with a compelling claim, the United Nations refugee agency has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chagos Islands: UK should pay reparations, says Human Rights Watch – BBC News

Posted February 16th, 2023 in Chagos Islands, colonies, compensation, human rights, news, United Nations by sally

‘The UK is committing crimes against humanity after removing people from the Chagos Islands, a British territory in the Indian Ocean, a rights group said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human Rights in the UK Are in Crisis According to New Report – Each Other

Posted January 17th, 2023 in human rights, news, reports, United Nations by sally

‘Over 70 organisations from across civil society in England and Wales have provided evidence for a new report to the UN on the UK’s human rights record. The report concludes that rights in the UK – including everyday rights such as to food, housing, social security, work, trade unions, health and education – are in crisis.’

Full Story

Each Other, 17th January 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Prof Brice Dickson: The UK’s Engagement With International Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 6th, 2022 in human rights, news, reports, standards, United Nations by sally

‘On 10 November 2022 the UN Human Rights Council conducted its fourth Universal Periodic Review of the UK’s compliance with international human rights standards. The Council’s report was adopted just six days later and contained no fewer than 302 recommendations from other States on how the UK could improve its human rights record. That figure is up from 227 in 2017. For early accounts of the review meeting see the pieces by Marcial Boo and Robert Booth.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 5th December 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK’s treatment of asylum seekers must comply with international law, UN says – The Independent

‘The UK should make sure its “treatment of asylum seekers complies with international laws”, members of the United Nations Human Rights Council said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 10th November 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK rolling back efforts to tackle modern slavery, charity says – The Guardian

‘The UK has been accused of “rolling back” moves to tackle modern slavery before a UN review of its human rights record on Thursday.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th November 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Sportswashing – Are Legal Remedies Available?” – Church Court Chambers

Posted August 18th, 2022 in arbitration, human rights, international courts, news, sport, United Nations by sally

‘The phrase ‘sportswashing’ is one that is used regularly in the press. So, what is it? There is no single definition and none that appears in the Oxford English dictionary. We can be bold and safely surmise that it is where a state uses sport to propel their reputation positively as a means to cover their poor human rights record.’

Full Story

Church Court Chambers, July 2022

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Archie Battersbee: Judges reject allowing more time for UN to consider case – BBC News

Posted August 2nd, 2022 in appeals, children, consent, hospitals, medical treatment, news, United Nations by tracey

‘A last-minute Court of Appeal hearing has ruled the withdrawal of life support for Archie Battersbee should not be postponed beyond Tuesday.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Archie Battersbee’s parents fail in life support bid at supreme court – The Guardian

‘The parents of 12-year-old Archie Battersbee, who was left in a comatose state after suffering brain damage, have failed to persuade the supreme court to intervene in a life support treatment battle.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Treatment of UK prisoners during Covid meets UN definition of torture – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2022 in coronavirus, mental health, news, prisons, torture, United Nations by sally

‘By and large we know by now how hospitals, care homes, schools and most other state-run institutions coped, or didn’t, with the Covid pandemic. But not until now, with this shocking, distressing, authentic and academically robust study, have we had the unvarnished truth about conditions in UK prisons.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com