News

Czech Republic Becomes Last EU State to Adopt Anti-discrimination Law

London, 25 June 2009

On 17 June 2009 the Czech Republic adopted anti-discrimination legislation which guarantees the right to equal treatment and bans discrimination in areas including access to employment, business, education, healthcare and social security on the grounds of sex, age, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and faith or worldview. The passing of the Anti-Discrimination Act by the Czech Chamber of Deputies was a necessary step to avoid legal proceedings by the European Commission for failing to implement the obligations contained in the EU Race Equality Directive (Council Directive 2000/43/EC) and the Employment Equality Directive (Council Directive 2000/78/EC).

Turkey's Passive Response to Domestic Violence Against Women Violates the Right to Non-Discrimination

London, 22 June 2009

On 9 June 2009, the European Court of Human Rights handed down the decision in the case of Opuz v. Turkey (Application no. 33401/02). In its judgment, the Court found that Turkey violated Article 2, Article 3 and Article 14 in conjunction with Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

British Equality Bill: Update on Legislative Developments

In the United Kingdom, a Parliamentary Public Bill Committee has begun the process of scrutinizing the Equality Bill which was published on 24 April 2009. The Equality Bill seeks to simplify the law which, over the last four decades, has become complex and difficult to navigate, by replacing nine different acts and 100 other measures in a single act. 

UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Adopts General Comment on Non-Discrimination

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (the Committee) adopted General Comment No. 20 on Non-Discrimination in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its 42nd session, which took place from 4 – 22 May 2009. The General Comment is the Committee’s interpretation of Article 2(2) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Article 2(2) states:

ERT Joins Appeal for Human Rights Council Special Session on Sri Lanka

London, 13 May 2009

The Equal Rights Trust has today joined 129 other NGOs from around the world in calling upon the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to hold a Special Session on the current human rights catastrophe in Sri Lanka, as a matter of urgent concern.

Hammarberg: Comprehensive Approach to Equality is Key to Addressing the 'Human Rights Challenge' Presented by the Economic Crisis

London 12 May 2009

Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe, has endorsed the comprehensive approach to equality adopted in the Declaration of Principles on Equality, as the solution to the ‘major political and ideological challenge’ presented by the world economic crisis.

The Equal Rights Trust Circulates a Written Statement to the Durban Review Conference

The Equal Rights Trust (ERT), an independent international organisation whose purpose is to combat discrimination and promote equality as a fundamental human right and a basic principle of social justice, welcomes the Durban Review Conference (DRC) as an important opportunity to examine the progress made towards fulfilling the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance Declaration and Programme of Action and to develop the commitments set out in this document.

Serbia Enacts First Far Reaching Anti-discrimination Law amidst the Clamour of Conservative Opposition

On 26 March 2009 the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia voted to approve the Anti-Discrimination Bill (the Bill) submitted by the Government. The vote marked the end of an 8 year process which had begun with the first draft of the Bill in 2001. The new law prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender or other grounds.

UK Permitted Broad Discretion to Implement Age Discrimination Law

5 March 2009

On 5 March 2009, the European Court of Justice held that article 6(1) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC did not make compulsory retirement ages unlawful in the case of The Incorporated Trustees of the National Council on Ageing (Age Concern England) v. Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Case C-388/07. 

Russia: Constitutional Court Forges the Way Out of Discrimination for People with Mental Disabilities

27 Febuary 2009

On 27 February 2009, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation decided its first case concerning regulations and procedures for assessing legal capacity, one of the key issues affecting people with mental disabilities and their participation on an equal basis with others in exercising basic human rights.

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