News

Strasbourg Court Holds that Hungary Violated Roma Rights to Education
London, 19 February 2013
 
On 29 January 2013, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued its judgment in Horváth and Kiss v Hungary, in which it ruled on the case of two Roma applicants who claimed that Hungary had violated their rights under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 (right to education) read with Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). The Court found that Hungary had indirectly discriminated against the applicants on the ground of their Roma origin in relation to their right to education in part because its procedures for identifying children with mental disabilities to be sent to remedial schools disproportionately impacted on the Roma in an unjustifiable way.

Strasbourg Court Rules in Four Religious Discrimination Cases Brought Against the UK by Christians, Finding One Violation

London, 24 January 2013

On 15 January 2013, The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued its long-awaited judgment in Eweida and others v UK, in which it ruled on the joined cases of four Christians who claimed that the UK had violated their rights under Article 9 (freedom of religion) and/or Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). In all bar one of the cases, which involved employees who had either been disciplined or dismissed as a result of their refusal to carry out a part of their job which they felt would be contrary to their Christian faith, the Court found that the UK had not violated the individuals' rights. 

ERT Urges Ugandan President to Intervene to Prevent Adoption of Anti-Homosexuality Bill

London, 11 January 2012

ERT Calls for Right to Equality to be at the Centre of Efforts to Increase Public Participation

London, 10 December 2012 

The theme of this year’s celebration of International Human Rights Day is inclusion and the right to participate in public life. Inclusion and participation – guaranteed in particular by the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of assembly and association and the right to take part in elections, in public life and decision-making – are key themes in ERT’s work. In many of its projects, ERT has highlighted the connection between discrimination and the lack of effective participation in public life. 

Human Rights Committee Finds Discrimination in Conjunction with Violation of Freedom of Expression

London, 3 December 2012The Human Rights Committee in a communication issued during its 106th session found the Russian Federation to have acted in violation of Articles 19 (Freedom of Expression) and 26 (Prohibition of Discrimination) of the ICCPR. The case concerned the treatment of LGBT human rights activist Irina Fedotova, who was arrested by the police and fined by a Russian Administrative Court on grounds that she breached legislation on “public actions aimed at the propaganda of homosexuality among minors” after having displayed posters promoting tolerance towards homosexuality near a local school.

Panel Discussion: Democratisation, Securitisation and Human Rights in Burma: Where do the Rohingya fit in?

London, 22 November 2012

The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) and the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy cordially invite you to a panel discussion titled “Democratisation, Securitisation and Human Rights in Burma: Where do the Rohingya fit in?” on Friday 30 November at 6pm – Room B102, Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Russell Square. The discussion will focus on the present crisis faced by Rohingya in Burma, and future prospects for this stateless community in the country. The panellists will look at this issue in the context of a Burma that is haltingly moving towards democracy but still unable to move beyond the long shadow of its authoritarian regime.

UK's Immigration Rules Prior to 2011 Found to Have Been Discriminatory by Strasbourg Court

London, 20 November 2012 

On 6 November 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that the United Kingdom’s failure to allow the family reunion of a refugee and his wife under its pre-2011 immigration rules was unlawful discrimination. Although the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) does not require states to provide a right to “family reunion” for spouses of immigrants, once such a right is provided, and as it falls within the general scope of the Convention’s protection of family life, it must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner.

Government Ministers' U-Turn on Suspension of Arrests of Homosexual Couples

London, 14 November 2012

With tensions in Malawi on the subject of homosexuality persisting, last week Malawi’s Minister for Justice, Ralph Kasambara, denied that laws which criminalise homosexual acts have been suspended. Only days earlier Minister Kasambara had announced that the laws were to be suspended pending a discussion in Parliament on their repeal. His latest announcement has been seen as a u-turn and is largely suspected to be a response to pressure from the Malawi Council of Churches, which strongly opposes the de-criminalisation of homosexual acts. Minister Kasambara’s comments mark another step back for gay rights in Malawi, following President Banda’s statement in October that Malawi is “not ready” to decriminalise homosexual acts.

ERT Publishes Washing the Tigers: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Malaysia

London, 12 November 2012

ERT Issues Emergency Report and Writes to Myanmar President on Violence in Rakhine State

London, 2 November 2012 The Rohingya of Myanmar have been subject to systematic, state sponsored attacks in Rakhine State, Myanmar, since June this year. The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has been monitoring the situation and making recommendations since the outset of the violence. 

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