News

Today, the Equal Rights Trust announces that Dr Dimitrina Petrova, who co-founded the organisation and has served as its Executive Director for ten years has stepped down, and that Jim Fitzgerald (former Head of Advocacy) and Joanna Whiteman (former Head of Litigation) have been appointed as Co-Directors to lead the organisation in the next stage of its development.

In February the Equal Rights Trust launched its Bob Hepple Memorial Fund a campaign which promotes equal opportunity in human rights careers by supporting funded internship and fellowship placements with the Trust.  The Fund levels the playing field, giving those without the financial means to take up unpaid placements the opportunity to enter the human rights sector and fulfil their ambition.

Today, the Equal Rights Trust and Moldovan non-governmental organisation Promo-LEX launch From Words to Deeds: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Moldova the first comprehensive study ever produced on discrimination in Moldova.

Last Thursday, equality activists, academics, lawyers and other experts gathered at the second annual Equal Rights Trust Bob Hepple Equality Award event, co-organised this year with the Industrial Law Society. The award winner was respected disability activist and academic Professor Anna Lawson.  

Following the referendum vote in the United Kingdom (UK) in favour of leaving the European Union (EU) last Thursday, the Equal Rights Trust urges the UK government to take urgent and effective measures to tackle inequality and respond robustly to discrimination. The Equal Rights Trust has noted with concern the centrality of inequality and discrimination to events and discourses in the lead up to and aftermath of the referendum.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Bob Niven, Vice Chair said:

Today the Bahamas are voting in a referendum to decide on whether sex discrimination should be eliminated from its nationality law. If the citizens of Bahamas votes yes to equality, the lives of many women and their families will be changed entirely. 

The the Equal Rights Trust and 135 other organisations have pledged to fight plans announced by the Government today that it intends to replace the UK’s Human Rights Act with a weaker “British Bill of Rights”.

Today is International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which has established itself as the single most important date for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons to unite globally and is aimed at decision makers, the media and public to promote LGBTI rights. In the spirit of unity and promoting these rights, we’ve put together some snapshots of our relevant work.

The Equal Rights Trust and the Industrial Law Society are delighted to invite you to the Bob Hepple Equality Award 2016 on Thursday 30 June 2016. The Award, established in the name of the late Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC champion of equality and non-discrimination, continues his legacy to recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals to equality.

Yesterday a hearing took place at the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights on the case of Khamtokhu and Aksenchik v Russia in which the Court will decide whether two men convicted of crimes in Russia have been victims of gender and age discrimination, due to legislation which allows life sentences to be given only to men between the ages of 18 and 65.

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