News

South African Constitutional Court Protects Customary Law's Development towards Gender Equality

London, 11 June 2008

On 4 June 2008, the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down the decision in the case of Shilubana and Others v Nwamitwa (Case CCT 3/07). The case arose out of a succession dispute, following the death in 2001 of the chief of the Valoyi community in Limpopo.  The eldest son of the deceased chief disputed a decision that the Royal Family adopted in December 1996 to end male primogeniture and confer chieftainship to the eldest daughter of the deceased’s brother (and predecessor in title) of the then reigning chief.

European Court of Human Rights Finds Discrimination of Roma Children in Greek Education System

London, 6 June 2008 

On 5 June 2008, the European Court of Human Rights handed down the judgment in the case of Sampanis and Others v. Greece (application no. 32526/05). Represented by the Greek Helsinki Monitor, 11 Greek nationals of Roma origin claimed discrimination in violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) in conjunction with Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 (right to education) and of Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) in respect of the treatment of their children by the educational authorities in Aspropyrgos, Greece.

ERT Urges Czech Chamber of Deputies to Vote for Anti-discrimination Bill

London, 30 May 2008

On the 30th of May 2008 The Equal Rights Trust wrote to Miloslav Vlèek, Chairperson of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament calling on him and other deputies of the Czech Parliament to adopt the Law on Equal Treatment and Legal Measures of Protection from Discrimination and Amendments to Some Laws (the anti-discrimination bill), which is scheduled to be put to the vote during the 3 June 2008 session of the Chamber.

US Adopts Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act

London, 23 May 2008 

On Wednesday 21 May 2008, United States' President George W. Bush signed into law the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA), which seeks to prevent medical advances in DNA testing being adversely used by employers and health insurance companies against people with a genetic predisposition to health issues.

ERT Letter to President Barroso Urging a Unified Approach to Non-discrimination Legislation

Today, The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) wrote to Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, regarding the Commission’s plan to draft a non-discrimination directive on the basis of Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty.

Disability Rights Convention to Enter into Force 3 May 2008

London, 9 April 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.

The Equal Rights Review: A New Journal to Promote the Equalities Debate

London, 28 March 2008

Today, The Equal Rights Trust published the first issue of The Equal Rights Review (ERR), an interdisciplinary biannual intended as a forum for the exchange of legal, philosophical, sociological and other ideas and practical insights from progressive movements promoting equality. Its special focus will be on the complex and complementary relationship between the different forms of discrimination and on developing strategies for translating the principles of equality into practice. ERR will be useful to national and regional experts, students, policy makers and practitioners. It will contain innovative theoretic articles, legal commentary, policy oriented analysis and advocacy reports. Especially welcome are contributions that generate debate.

Romania: Police Brutality against Roma Constitutes Substantive Violation of Article 14 of ECHR

London, 10 March 2008 

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 case of Stoica v. Romania (Application no. 42722/02) was lodged with the ECHR on 19 December 2002 following a failed attempt to invoke successful criminal justice procedures by the applicant’s family in Romania.

European Court of Justice Rules EU Equal Treatment Directive Protects from Dismissal for In Vitro Fertilisation

London, 6 March 2008

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. 

Malaysia: Stop Harassment of Opposition and Minority Activists in the Run-up to the Parliamentary Elections

London, 27 February 2008

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.  Discriminatory treatment in relation to freedoms protected by international law also violates the victims’ right to participate on equal terms with all other voters in Malaysia in the parliamentary elections set for 8 March 2008.

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