Human rights | LocalGov


Gender-critical social worker awarded over £50k 29/04/2024 A social worker who faced disciplinary action following complaints about her gender critical beliefs will be awarded over £50,000.
Trade union law ‘nullifies’ right to strike, court rules 18/04/2024 UNISON has welcomed a landmark Supreme Court ruling that found UK trade union law ‘encourages and legitimises unfair and unreasonable conduct’ by employers.
‘Illiberal’ bill banning boycotts of Israel passes Commons 11/01/2024 A bill aimed at banning local authorities from boycotting Israel has passed the Commons despite being branded as ‘illiberal and draconian’.
Implementing the new voter ID requirement 18/12/2023 Baroness Drake, chair of the House of Lords Constitution Committee, discusses how implementation of the new voter ID requirement could be improved.
Barge death concerns 18/12/2023 Concerns over conditions inside some asylum accommodation intensified last week, after the death of an asylum seeker onboard the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Mayor of London criticised for Saudi ads 13/12/2023 Mayor Khan has been criticised after Saudi adverts appeared on the TfL Network despite advertising restrictions on countries with poor human rights records.
Councillors urge Government to respect Rwanda ruling 16/11/2023 Nearly 130 councillors have urged the Government to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling on its controversial plans to send people seeking asylum to Rwanda.
Council accused of menopause ‘discrimination’ 02/10/2023 Employment tribunal will today begin the first case in Britain where a worker will argue that menopause symptoms amount to a disability under the Equality Act.
Government failing to protect disabled people 17/08/2023 The UK and Welsh governments are failing to protect disabled people from discrimination and the situation is worsening due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Councils slammed over '47-year negligence' after Uber court case 02/08/2023 A union representing private hire drivers has claimed victory in a court case that has clarified the legal status of ride-hailing services and their drivers.
Court clarifies council obligations under Human Rights Act 18/05/2023 There is no requirement for children to be in the care of a local authority for the obligations under the Human Rights Act to arise, Court of Appeal rules.
Government launches £500,000 know-your-rights scheme 19/04/2023 Social housing tenants in seven cities are to be offered a place on a Government-funded training scheme aimed at helping them hold their landlords to account.
Notts council urged to end twinning with Chinese city 14/02/2023 Campaigners have published an open letter calling on Nottingham City Council to end its relationship with a city in China.
Ombudsman urges councils to adopt ‘rights-based mindset’ 01/12/2022 Human rights should be at the centre of all council services, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said.
Council cancels event over feminist writer’s views on trans rights 27/06/2022 Feminist writer Julie Bindel has threatened to sue Nottingham CC after the council banned her from giving a talk because of her views on transgender rights.
One in three UK adults face homelessness, Amnesty warns 07/06/2022 The right to housing should be protected in law, human rights groups says as nearly one in three adults report they are concerned about homelessness.
Queen’s Speech: Mental health laws to be overhauled 10/05/2022 Government will reform mental health laws to make it harder to detain people and to stop the disproportionate use of the laws against BAME communities.
Call for clarity on local government's use of Hikvision surveillance cameras 26/04/2022 Local government minister, Michael Gove, has been urged to clarify his position on buying surveillance cameras from tech company Hikvision.
Government launches Liberty Protection Safeguards consultation 18/03/2022 Government has launched a consultation on Liberty Protection Safeguards to ensure the freedom of people who may need decision-making assistance is protected.
County council ends contract with Russian-owned Gazprom 02/03/2022 Suffolk County Council has decided to end its contract with the Russian-owned energy supplier Gazprom in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Human rights group warns of ‘uninhabitable’ temporary accommodation 18/01/2022 Children in London growing up in ‘uninhabitable’ temporary accommodation due to Government-imposed austerity and the housing crisis, human rights group warns.
Report criticises 'destitution by design' policy 11/10/2021 A new report has called for a step-change in the way asylum seekers are supported in Scotland.
Vulnerable children ‘detained unlawfully’ in Scotland 07/06/2021 Vulnerable children in Scotland may have been detained unlawfully in secure accommodation, a new investigation has revealed.
Trade union calls for higher human rights standards in PPE 26/01/2021 A local government trade union has called for new laws to stop PPE being supplied by companies that exploit workers.
Brighton councillors criticise arms manufacturer for ‘deadly bombs’ used in Yemen 02/10/2019 Councillors in Brighton have called on the Government to stop a local business from manufacturing ‘deadly bombs and weapons’ after the company was named in a UN report.
Facing up the future? 27/09/2019 Sue Chadwick urges local authorities to think hard before using Automatic Facial Recognition technology on publicly owned land and buildings.
Grenfell residents had human rights breached, watchdog warns 13/03/2019 The residents of Grenfell Tower had their human rights breached by the council and public services before the fire started, a watchdog has warned.
Council’s decision not to allow a barrier around Muslim grave ‘fair’, court rules 23/01/2019 A court has ruled that Walsall Council’s decision not to allow a Muslim man to install a marble edge around his father’s grave was ‘appropriate and fair’.
Councils criticised for banning anti-abortion protests 30/05/2018 Councils wanting to restrict protests outside abortion clinics have been challenged by a group of campaigners, including human rights activist Peter Tatchell.
Councils threaten to ‘divide' migrant families, report says 09/04/2018 Local authorities often threaten to take children into care if their parents do not have the proper documentation to remain in the country, human rights groups warn.
Human rights watchdog launches Grenfell fire inquiry 11/12/2017 The harm suffered by those who survived or witnessed the Grenfell Tower fire may constitute ‘inhumane and degrading treatment’, according to human rights watchdogs.
Councils complicit in ‘human rights violations’, disability organisations say 21/08/2017 Deaf and disability organisations have accused the Government and local authorities of human rights violations due to policies which prevent disabled people living independent lives.