Human Rights

Virginia Bras Gomes speaking at a podium

March 8, 2018 0

‘Huge danger’ of UK austerity policies damaging rights, says UN expert

There is a “huge danger” that the government’s austerity policies are damaging the well-established social and economic rights of disabled people and other groups, according to the chair of a UN human rights committee. Virginia Bras-Gomes, chair of the UN committee on economic, social and cultural rights (UNCESCR), said there was a “growing concern”

Human Rights

An overhead view of the delegates in the chamber in Geneva

March 1, 2018 0

DPOs ask May for meeting over lack of progress on UN convention rights

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Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have accused the government of maintaining a “head-in-the-sand denial” of its failure to protect disabled people’s human rights. The criticism came from a coalition of DPOs from across the UK as they wrote to the prime minister, Theresa May, to question the lack of progress in the six months since

Human Rights

A Ministry of Justice sign on a grey wall

February 15, 2018 0

Legal advice concerns after government abandons search for new contractors

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Lawyers and campaigners have raised fresh concerns about the government’s approach to providing legal advice to people who need help with discrimination and special educational needs (SEN) cases, after ministers abandoned efforts to award new contracts in those areas. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had been seeking organisations to take on contracts to provide

Human Rights

Baroness Campbell speaking in the House of Lords

February 8, 2018 0

Disabled peer raises ‘deep concerns’ over impact of Brexit bill on rights

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Disabled people should be concerned that the process of leaving the European Union (EU) could see their rights “lost or watered down”, according to a disabled peer. Baroness [Jane] Campbell told fellow peers last week that she had “deep concerns” at the “sweeping powers” that the government’s European Union (withdrawal) bill would give to

Human Rights

Liz Carr holds up a sign saying Assisted suicide is not the solution, next to a man holding a sign saying don't give doctors a licence to kill, in front of other protesters

February 1, 2018 0

Concern over balance of major end-of-life conference

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Disabled campaigners have raised concerns that a major conference on “end of life choice” – being organised by the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) – appears to be tilted in favour of speakers who want to legalise assisted suicide. Of speakers lined up to speak at the conference who have previously expressed their views

Human Rights

January 25, 2018 0

Local Mencap charity boss shared racist posts on social media

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The boss of a local Mencap charity has admitted repeatedly sharing racist messages from far-right organisations including the BNP and Britain First on social media. Patricia Chadwick has been sharing far-right messages on her Facebook page since at least 2015, alongside animal welfare posts and messages of support for the charity she chairs, Bolton

Human Rights

December 14, 2017 0

Autistic-led taskforce will address ‘hypocrisy and injustice’

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A new autistic-led taskforce has pledged to address the “hypocrisy and injustice” that faces autistic people, and make it easier for them to control their own lives, with the help of a £100,000 grant. The National Autistic Taskforce (NAT) is being funded for two years through the grant from the Shirley Foundation, which was

Human Rights

Lord Shinkwin speaking in the House of Lords

December 14, 2017 0

Disabled peer quits equality watchdog over ‘shameful downgrading of disability’

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A disabled Tory peer has resigned as a board member of the equality watchdog over a government minister’s “collusion” with the decision not to appoint him as a disability commissioner. Lord [Kevin] Shinkwin made the announcement in a speech in the House of Lords on Tuesday, during a debate on the human rights implications

Human Rights

Baroness Grey-Thompson speaking in the House of Lords

December 14, 2017 0

Disabled peers raise fresh alarm over Brexit rights

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Two disabled peers have called on the government to ensure that the rights of disabled people are protected when the country leaves the European Union (EU). Both Baroness [Tanni] Grey-Thompson and Baroness [Jane] Campbell raised concerns of possible “regression” of the rights of disabled people in the UK as a result of the Brexit

Human Rights

Sarah Newton speaking in the House of Commons

December 7, 2017 0

Disability minister fails to mark international disabled people’s day

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The new minister for disabled people has refused to explain why she apparently failed to attend or organise any events – or even post a message of support on social media – on the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). While disabled campaigners and organisations and even government departments were demonstrating their

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