The UK and Saudi Arabia: Human Rights and the Perils of Petrodollar Morality – Part I
The Human Rights and Democracy Report (2015) recently released by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office carries a curiously worded statement by Prime Minister David Cameron: “We condemn and do...
Judging Abortion in Northern Ireland: Facing the Challenges, Taking the Opportunities
The Northern Ireland legal system and, more specifically, Northern Irish courts have been thrust into the national spotlight this week following the prosecution of a 21 year old woman who...
Gender Pay Gap Reporting: Will Transparency Lead to Change?
When David Cameron announced that his government would require large private sector employers to report on gender pay differences in their workplace, he said it would “cast sunlight on the...
Papa Don’t Preach (You May be Found Guilty of Hate Speech)
Rare is the day when the lowly District Judge sitting in the Magistrates’ Court gets the distinction of having one of his judgments reported. Kudos then to District Judge McNally...
Brexit, Rights, and the (Potential) Scrapping of the HRA
The relationship between Brexit (British exit from the European Union) and human (and other) rights depends on what “rights” are under discussion. Although some in the media have incorrectly conflated...
Administrative Decisions and Terrorist Suspects: The UK Supreme Court’s Decision in Youssef v SSFC
The month of January witnessed an important UK Supreme Court decision in Youssef v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (“Youssef”) pertaining to civil rights. It considered a...
Zero Hours – Zero Solutions
Over the course of the past year, we have repeatedly highlighted the problems facing workers on so-called ‘zero-hours contracts’ (‘ZHCs’), and criticised the government’s inadequate regulatory response in the Small...
Let’s Talk about Sex Education and Human Rights
Despite a proposal by four prominent House of Commons Committees and various professional organisations, the Minister of Education announced on February 11, 2016 that age-appropriate sex and relationship education, including...
Journalism, Detention and Anti-Terrorism Powers
Few would dispute that journalistic sources and material deserve special legal protection in a liberal democracy. But few would suggest that this protection should confer a licence to damage national...
A Right to Change Employer for Overseas Domestic Workers
Theresa May, the UK Home Secretary, presented the adoption of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 as a ‘historic milestone’, but many viewed it as a missed opportunity. During its drafting,...
Minorities suffer as the Supreme Court supports ‘suspicionless’ stop searches
In Roberts v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and Another, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which...
Striking a Fine Balance: A Welcome Judicial Review of Executive Discretion in MM
On 3 December 2015, the High Court (Administrative Division) of England and Wales rendered an important decision in MM & GY & TY v Secretary of State (“MM”) with respect...
