Business And Human Rights… More Than Lofty Rhetoric? – RightsInfo

‘This Thursday, it will be five years since the United Nations Human Rights Council first adopted the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This post argues that while the UK has demonstrated its commitment to these principles and the protection of human rights in business, there is still room for improvement.’

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RightsInfo, 13th June 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Equality watchdog warns junior doctors’ contract is potentially illegal – The Guardian

‘The new contract ministers plan to force on NHS junior doctors discriminates against female medics and is potentially illegal, Britain’s equality watchdog has told the government.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

An absence of fairness: the Trade Union Bill – OUP Blog

Posted April 5th, 2016 in bills, industrial action, news, reports, trade unions, United Nations by sally

‘According to Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Trade Union Bill currently before Parliament is “not a ban on strike action. This is about ensuring that our rules are modern and right and fit for today’s workplace”. As the Bill progresses through the House of Lords, Mr Javid’s rosy view has been challenged by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the UN supervisory body responsible for scrutiny of compliance with international labour standards.’

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OUP Blog, 5th April 2016

Source: http://blog.oup.com

Julian Assange: UN panel calls on UK and Sweden to end ‘arbitrary detention’ and compensate WikiLeaks founder – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2016 in detention, embassies, extradition, freedom of movement, news, United Nations by tracey

‘Julian Assange must be freed from “arbitrary detention” by the UK and Sweden, the United Nations has ruled.’

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The Independent, 5th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family of hate preacher linked to ‘Jihadi John’ win right to UK citizenship – Daily Telegraph

‘Hani al-Sibai has been on a terror sanctions list since 2005 and resisted deportation to his native Egypt for almost 20 years – but the High Court has ruled his family should be given UK citizenship.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UN torture investigator says UK plan to scrap Human Rights Act is ‘dangerous’ – The Guardian

‘The UN special rapporteur on torture has accused David Cameron of a “cold-hearted ” approach to the migration crisis, warning that plans to scrap the Human Rights Act risk subverting international obligations designed to protect people fleeing persecution.’

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The Guardian, 3rd October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Who, What, Why: When is it legal to kill your own citizens? – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2015 in armed forces, international law, news, self-defence, terrorism, United Nations by sally

‘Two British jihadists from the Islamic State group were killed by a RAF drone strike in Syria. What’s the legal status of the attack?’

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BBC News, 8th September 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UN urges UK to make smacking illegal – BBC News

Posted July 24th, 2015 in child abuse, children, corporal punishment, news, United Nations by sally

‘The UK should pass laws to ban parents from smacking their children at home, a United Nations report has suggested.’

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BBC News, 24th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Britain told to review counter-terrorism powers by UN human rights committee – The Guardian

‘Britain should review its key counter-terrorism powers and revise laws on snooping by security services, a UN report has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 23rd July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Smacking must be banned to bring UK into line with international law – report to UN insists – Daily Telegraph

‘Report compiled for UN by Government’s children’s tsars demands “immediate repeal” of laws allowing parents to hit their children.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Why do corporate lawyers need to know about human rights? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted June 17th, 2015 in EC law, human rights, mergers, news, regulations, United Nations by sally

‘Since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2011, human rights due diligence requirements are progressively finding their way into hard law, for instance, in reporting and compliance regulations. Examples of recent regulatory developments include the EU Directive on non-financial reporting, the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, and section 1502 of the US Dodd-Frank Act. Proposals relating to mandatory human rights due diligence have been initiated in the EU, France and Switzerland, and the UN Human Rights Council has now appointed an intergovernmental working group to explore the possibility of a binding treaty on business and human rights.’
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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 17th June 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

The UNCRC in the Supreme Court – the impact of SG v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Family Law Week

Posted May 28th, 2015 in appeals, children, human rights, news, Supreme Court, treaties, United Nations by sally

‘Deirdre Fotttrell QC of 1 Garden Court Family Law Chambers considers the Supreme Court’s latest deliberations on when and how the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are directly enforceable in English law.’
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Family Law Week, 21st May 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 7th, 2015 in budgets, charities, legislation, United Nations by sally

International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

UK benefit cap is lawful, supreme court rules – The Guardian

‘The supreme court has ruled that the government’s benefit cap, which limits unemployed claimants to £500 a week in total welfare payments, is lawful.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Parliamentary conference to discuss alternatives to UK’s failing drug laws – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2015 in drug abuse, drug offences, drug trafficking, news, parliament, United Nations by sally

‘A high-profile parliamentary conference is to be held next month to discuss alternatives to Britain’s failing drug laws and influence the international debate on drugs.’

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The Guardian, 10th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Yarl’s Wood: UN special rapporteur to censure UK government – The Guardian

‘The official report of the UN special rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, will censure the UK government for preventing her from inspecting Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Statelessness, deprivation of nationality, and EU Citizenship…what is B2 in the Supreme Court really all about? – Free Movement

Posted November 26th, 2014 in citizenship, EC law, news, terrorism, United Nations by sally

‘Many practitioners are concerned about the increasing use of draconian powers to deprive people of their citizenship and the related “evil of statelessness” (which is the subject of the UNCHR’s latest campaign.) Last week, a 7-member Supreme Court panel heard the latest round of arguments on these issues in the case of Secretary of State for the Home Department v B2. The appeal comes in the wake of government proposals to limit the right of British Citizens to return to the UK following suspected terrorist activity abroad. It could have profound implications for the government’s approach to “British jihadis”.’

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Free Movement, 26th November 2014

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Human Rights: Philosophy and History – Gresham College

Posted October 22nd, 2014 in human rights, legal history, magna carta, news, United Nations by sally

‘The philosophical and historical development of what may be regarded as essential human rights will be traced. It is essential to understand this development before criticising – or complaining about – modern Human Rights law.’

Transcript

Gresham College, 15th October 2014

Source: www.gresham.ac.uk

Charles Taylor, Liberian president who ‘ate the hearts of his enemies’, sues the UK government for denying him right to family life – The Independent

Posted June 19th, 2014 in appeals, crimes against humanity, human rights, news, United Nations by sally

‘An African warlord serving 50 years in prison for crimes against humanity is suing Britain for denying him the right to a family life.’

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The Independent, 19th June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Emily MacKenzie: The Lawfulness of Detention by British Forces in Afghanistan – Serdar Mohammed v Ministry of Defence – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 2nd May, the High Court held that the UK Government must pay Serdar Mohammed (SM) compensation because British troops detained him unlawfully in Afghanistan. The case raised a myriad of international law issues, which are dealt with elegantly in an extensive judgment by Mr Justice Leggatt. This post will attempt to summarise some of the key issues involved.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 2nd June 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org