UK defies UN deadline to return Chagos Islands – The Guardian
‘Refusal to return archipelago to Mauritius “lawless” and “reflects colonial mindset” says barrister.’
The Guardian, 22nd November 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Category: United Nations
UN highlights role of legal aid cuts in “immiseration” of millions – Legal Futures
‘The decimation of legal aid has contributed to “the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain”, the UN’s expert on poverty and human rights said yesterday.’
Legal Futures, 23rd May 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
UN backs demand for Britain to relinquish Chagos islands – Daily Telegraph
‘Britain suffered an embarrassing diplomatic defeat on Wednesday when the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to hand the disputed Chagos islands back to Mauritius.’
Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Chagos Islands dispute: UK obliged to end control – UN – BBC News
‘The UK should end its control of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean “as rapidly as possible”, the UN’s highest court has said.’
BBC News, 25th February 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
International law regarding use of force – OUP Blog
‘Through the power of precedent, international incidents involving the use of force help to clarify the meaning and interpretation of jus ad bellum, the corpus of rules arising from international custom and the United Nations Charter that govern the use of force. UN Charter Article 2(4) forbids states from using force in their international relations. Exceptions to this prohibition are acts taken in self-defence under UN Charter Article 51 or under the auspices of a UN Security Council authorization to use force under Article 42. States can also consent that another state use force in its territory, for example to combat rebel or terrorist actors. In certain cases, state practice gives rise to new interpretations of existing rules or novel exceptions emerge. Through the study of precedents scholars often consider whether or not there has been a shift in the legal landscape. To give but a few illustrations, commentators have questioned if States take measures of self-defence under Article 51 to protect nationals abroad (a justification that has been invoked at various moments, for instance by Russia in the context of the crisis in Georgia in 2008), if a right to humanitarian intervention has emerged (a discussion triggered by the Kosovo crisis in 1999), or if self-defence under Article 51 can be invoked against non-state actors (a topical debate in the post 9/11 era). Consequently, depending on the precedent’s facts and the arguments invoked by the main protagonists different legal issues can be triggered.’
OUP Blog, 19th November 2018
Source: blog.oup.com
The history of The Declaration of the Rights of the Child – OUP Blog
‘Virtually every news cycle seems to feature children as victims of military actions, gun violence, economic injustice, racism, sexism, sexual abuse, hunger, underfunded schools, unbridled commercialism—the list is endless. Each violates our sense of what childhood ought to be and challenges what we believe childhood has always been.’
OUP Blog, 5th November 2018
Source: blog.oup.com
UK agrees principles for tackling modern slavery in supply chains – Home Office
‘The UK has developed, alongside the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, principles for nations to adopt to tackle modern slavery in global supply chains.’
Home Office, 25th September 2018
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
The legal basis for air strikes against Syrian government targets – House of Commons Library
‘This paper looks at the general prohibition in international law on the use of force or threat of force directed at other states, and the legal advice on which the Government decided to participate with the US and France in air strikes on Syrian government targets on 14 April.’
House of Commons Library, 16th April 2018
Source: www.parliament.uk
violence Women’s rights and gender equality ‘Glib’: UK criticised for failing to give to fund for survivors of UN sexual abuse – The Guardian
‘The UK government has come under fire from victims’ groups for failing to contribute to a UN fund for survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff.’
The Guardian, 13th March 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
UN urged to launch global effort to end offshore tax evasion – The Guardian
‘The United Nations has been urged by the Tax Justice Network to coordinate a global effort to end offshore tax evasion and corruption, amid warnings that the UK is continuing to insulate its overseas territories from financial transparency.’
The Guardian, 30th January 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Do We Even Need Human Rights Anymore? – Rights Info
‘Today [10 December] is International Human Rights Day, in recognition of the 10 December 1948, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.’
Rights Info, 10th December 2017
Source: rightsinfo.org
No British judge on world court for first time in its 71-year history – The Guardian
‘The UK will not have a judge on the bench of the international court of justice for the first time in its 71-year history after the British candidate withdrew following an acrimonious competition.’
The Guardian, 20th November 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Youth Justice System ‘Falls Short’ of Human Rights Obligations, MPs Claim – Rights Info
‘The current system of disclosing past convictions undermines the principles of the youth justice system, according to a report published today by the Justice Committee.’
Rights Info, 27th October 2017
Source: rightsinfo.org
UK court to rule on Saudi arms exports – BBC News
‘The High Court is to rule later on the legality of UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia.’
BBC News, 10th July 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Chagos legal status sent to international court by UN – BBC News
‘A dispute between the UK and Mauritius over disputed island territory in the Indian Ocean is to be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).’
BBC News, 22nd June 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
The Highs and Lows of the UK’s Business and Human Rights Laws – Rightsinfo
‘Today marks 6 years since the UN Human Rights Council adopted the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. To celebrate, we are looking at three fantastic things the UK has done to ensure that businesses respect human rights, and two areas where it could vastly improve.’
Rightsinfo, 16th June 2017
Source: rightsinfo.org
UN asks UK to suspend work on Hinkley Point – The Guardian
‘A United Nations committee has asked the UK to suspend work on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset because of the government’s failure to consult with European countries over the project.’
The Guardian, 20th March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
UK prisons ‘holding child inmates in solitary confinement against UN torture rules’ – The Independent
‘British prisons are holding child inmates in solitary confinement in an alleged breach of UN torture rules and British law, The Independent has found. Lawyers in one case have launched legal action against the Government in the High Court.’
The Independent, 21st February 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Criminals fleeing British justice can no longer use Cyprus as a safe haven, judges rule, in landmark decision – Daily Telegraph
‘Fugitives from British justice cannot use Northern Cyprus to dodge punishment for their crimes, High Court judges have ruled in a landmark decision.’
Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Human rights and business: is international law relevant? – OUP Blog
‘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.’
OUP Blog, 19th December 2016
Source: www.blog.oup.com
