On 17th February 2012, the UK High Court found that the government’s policy on tuition fees, while breaching public sector duties to uphold equality, did not amount to a violation of human rights. Two teenagers, Callum Hurley and Katy Moore, represented by Matrix Chambers’ Helen Mountfield QC, instructed by Public Interest Lawyers’ Sam Jacobs, brought… More UK High Court rejects students’ claim that rise in student fees violates Human Rights

On 22nd February 2012, in the case of The Mayor Commonality and Citizens of London v Tammy Samede EWCA Civ 160, the UK’s Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the protestors’ appeal, upholding the eviction order by Mr. Justice Lindbolm, which will put an end to the protestors’ camp that has been located in the St… More UK Court of Appeal unanimously rejects the challenge of the eviction order of St Paul’s Cathedral

On 16th February 2012, in Savin v Ukraine (application no. 34725/08), the European Court of Human Rights held in a Chamber judgment in favour of the applicant Vyachelslav Savin, a Russian national residing in Ukraine. The police summoned Mr. Savin to a police station in 1999 as a witness to a fraud cause, where an… More European Court finds that ill-treatment in Savin v Ukraine amounted to torture

In the last month, the brutality of the Bashar al-Assad regime has been denounced by several Western democracies and international organizations. The US also condemns the Syrian regime for its crimes against humanity. As Mehdi Hasan points out in his article in the Guardian 19 February 2012, it is hard not to notice the difference… More Is Syria a US enemy or an ally in the war of terror?

The Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips, declared that those who provide a public service must abide by the law. Although this sounds quite obvious, many religious organisations have requested to be exempted from this legislation which requires them not to discriminate against homosexual couples on the grounds of their sexuality.… More Can religious groups exempt themselves from discrimination legislation?

The Midland Pig Producers (MPP) have applied for permission to build a pig-farm, which could house up to 25,000 animals, in South Derbyshire close to a prison and residential housing. However, several organisations, like the organic farmers’ group, the Soil Association and Friends of the Earth are trying to urge the Derby county council to… More A US- style pig farm could breach human rights

According to The Guardian, plans that are likely to be included in the Queen’s Speech in May, risk covering up sensitive information relating to the state’s complicity in torture and secret rendition. These plans, likely to be included in a justice bill in the next session of parliament, propose the introduction of the so-called closed… More Closed material procedures might lead to more secret justice and less human rights guarantees

In Sugar (Deceased) (Represented by Fiona Paveley) (Appellant) v British Broadcasting Corporation (Respondent), the Supreme Court in the United Kingdom ruled on 15th February 2012 that an internal BBC report on its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict did not need to be released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. Mr… More BBC not required to disclose an Internal Report on Israel-Palestine Coverage

On 14th February 2012, in Hardy & Maile v. the United Kingdom, applicants Alison Hardy and Rodney Maile lost in their challenge of the grant of consents to enable liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to be imported. The applicants claimed violations of Article 2 on the right to life and Article 8 on the right… More Strasbourg Court Finds No Violation of Article 8 in Hardy & Maile v. the United Kingdom