Advocacy Statements

ERT calls on General Musharraf to release all those detained and reinstate independent judiciary

In support of the Global Day of Action to protest against the state of emergency in Pakistan, on 15th November 2007 The Equal Rights Trust urged President Musarraf to order the immediate release of all those arbitrarily arrested and detained, following the introduction of the state of emergency on 3 November 2007.

ERT urges release of anti-discrimination activists in Malaysia

On 14th of December 2007 The Equal Rights Trust urged Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia , to immediately release from detention P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasanthakumar; and to ensure that everyone, without distinction of any kind, including ethnic origin and political or other opinion, is effectively protected from arbitrary arrest and charges for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Nepal prohibits discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity

On 21 December 2007 the Supreme Court of Nepal issued directive orders to the Government of Nepal to end discrimination against people of different sexual orientation or gender identity. The Equal Rights Trust considers the decision of the court to be a progressive step in recognising the equal rights for those with different sexual orientations and gender identities. The decision is a significant victory for the lobbying efforts of the Blue Diamond Society, a local non-governmental organisation supporting people with different sexual orientation or gender identity.

France: European Court finds violation of Article 14 ECHR on grounds of sexual orientation

On 22 January 2008 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that France violated Article 14 (right to non-discrimination) in conjunction with Article 8 (right to private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in refusing the adoption application of a lesbian woman. The case of E.B. v France began proceedings in the Strasbourg Court in 2002 following the rejection of a number of national appeals to overturn the decision of an adoption board to reject the adoption application of the applicant, E.B.

Turkey: constitutional amendments lifting headscarf ban in higher education

The Equal Rights Trust urges Turkish authorities to consider the two newly adopted constitutional amendments that will ease restrictions on the freedom to wear the Islamic headscarf in public higher education institutions, as a first step to putting in place a comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that would effectively combat all forms of discrimination.

Malaysia: Stop harassment of opposition and minority activists in the run-up to the parliamentary elections

On 26 February 2008, The Equal Rights Trust again urged Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, to ensure that the police does not abuse its powers to discriminate against certain civil society groups and opposition party activists. ERT has also called on the Malaysian Government to accede to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its optional protocols and to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and thus reinforce the safeguards for the enjoyment of human rights in Malaysia.

European Court of Justice rules EU Equal Treatment Directive protects from dismissal for in vitro fertilisation

On 26 February 2008, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held that articles 2(1) and 5(1) of Council Directive 76/207/EEC preclude the dismissal of a female worker who is at an advanced stage of in vitro fertilisation treatment, where it can be established that the dismissal is essentially based on the fact that the woman has undergone such treatment.

Romania: Police brutality against Roma constitutes substantive violation of article 14 of ECHR

On 4 March 2008 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held that Romania had violated Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights in conjunction with Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment). The Equal Rights Trust, on 10th March 2008, welcomed the judgement as a contribution to the complex questions of evidence and proof in Article 14 jurisprudence of the ECHR.

Disability Rights Convention to enter into force 3 May 2008

On Thursday 3 April 2008, Ecuador became the twentieth country to ratify the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This ratification means that the Convention along with its Optional Protocol, permitting individual communications to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will enter into force on 3 May 2008.

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