Human Rights

Theresia Degener chair of the committee, sits, talking, behind a name plate saying T Degener

October 11, 2018 0

Watchdogs’ concern over government refusal to act on UN rights reports

Four equality and human rights watchdogs have heavily criticised the government for its failure to address the serious concerns raised in a “damning” UN report on the rights of disabled people across the UK. A year on from the report by the UN’s committee on the rights of persons with disabilities (pictured), in which

Human Rights

A tweet by Julia Hartley-Brewer which includes a sign saying 'safe space'

September 27, 2018 0

Labour conference: Right-wing journalist faces ban call after ‘safe space’ video

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Disabled party members are calling on Labour to ban a prominent right-wing journalist from future events after she posted a video on social media mocking the provision of a “safe space” used by disabled people at this week’s party conference. The party has told Disability News Service (DNS) that the behaviour of Julia Hartley-Brewer

Human Rights

Conference delegates watch Henry Jones make a speech from the stage

September 20, 2018 0

Lib Dem conference: Members vote for rights-based reform to mental health laws

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Liberal Democrats have called for an end to “discriminatory” laws that allow people with mental health conditions or learning difficulties who have capacity to make their own decisions to be detained against their will. Current mental health legislation means that a person assessed as needing urgent medical treatment and assessment because of a “mental

Human Rights

September 13, 2018 0

Government’s response to ‘human catastrophe’ UN report is ‘deeply unsatisfying’

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The government has been accused of publishing a “deeply unsatisfying” response to a devastating report by a UN committee that concluded last year that the UK had been “going backwards” on independent living. One disabled people’s organisation (DPO) said the government had been “clutching at straws” in the response in an attempt to persuade

Human Rights

September 6, 2018 0

Bill on mental capacity and liberty deprivation ‘will take disability rights backwards’

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Disabled campaigners say the government must delay a controversial bill they believe would make it easier to restrict the freedom of people in care settings who lack capacity to make their own decisions. Peers yesterday (Wednesday) began debating the committee stage of the mental capacity (amendment) bill, legislation that will affect an estimated 300,000

Human Rights

A beautiful manor house set back behind a low stone wall

August 23, 2018 0

Leonard Cheshire facing care regulator questions after third Greathouse death

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A disability charity is facing questions from the care regulator after a third former resident of a care home died within a month of its sudden closure. Last week, Disability News Service (DNS) reported concerns from disabled campaigners, relatives and former staff at Greathouse, near Chippenham, after it emerged that two of its former

Human Rights

The outside of the Royal Courts of Justice

August 23, 2018 0

Deaf campaigner takes court action over BSL jury ban

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A Deaf campaigner has launched a legal action aimed at stopping the government discriminating against users of British Sign Language by preventing them from serving on juries. David Buxton, chief executive of the London-based disabled people’s organisation Action on Disability, is seeking a judicial review of the government’s failure to allow him to sit

Human Rights

Lots of people sit around circular tables

August 16, 2018 0

User-led alliance set to raise concerns for second time with Mental Health Act Review

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User-led groups and service-users are set to raise grave concerns about the work of the team reviewing mental health laws on behalf of the government, including its refusal to take a “full human rights-based approach” to reform. An alliance of user-led organisations, mental health service-users and survivors, and their allies, are to write for

Human Rights

August 9, 2018 0

UN’s ‘human catastrophe’ rights expert to deliver high-profile UK lecture

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The UN expert who told the government that its cuts to disabled people’s support had caused a “human catastrophe” is to visit the UK this autumn to deliver a high-profile lecture on disability rights. Theresia Degener, the professor of law and disability studies who chairs the UN committee on the rights of persons with

Human Rights

Two wheelchair-users protesting outside parliament, one of them (Dennis Queen) is holding a placard saying 'who will be next', and is wearing a Not Dead Yet UK tee-shirt

August 2, 2018 0

Supreme Court ruling ‘risks bringing in euthanasia by the back door’

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Disabled campaigners have warned that a Supreme Court ruling has removed a vital safeguard that protected the lives of brain-damaged patients who have been left unconscious. The Supreme Court ruled this week that families and doctors will no longer have to seek a court order if they agree to end the life of a

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