Human rights news and case-law roundup

5 August 2010 by Adam Wagner

We recently started adding links to interesting new articles and case-law on the right the sidebar under the heading “Selected news sources”.

As of last week, these articles now appear on our Twitter feed (@ukhumanrightsb) too. Below is a quick rundown of the most recent links. The full list of links can be found here.

• 4 Aug | European Court Rules on Prohibited Weapons in Armed Conflict, Retroactivity: This is a case about the supply of mustard gas to Saddam Hussein, in the European Court of Human Rights. A man prosecuted for supplying thiodiglycol (mustard gas). He complained under Article 6 of the Convention that the Dutch Supreme Court had failed to answer his argument that since Saddam Hussein and Ali Hassan al-Majid al-Tikriti were beyond the jurisdiction of the Netherlands courts, he ought not to have been convicted as their accessory. He also complained under Article 6 or Article 7 of the Convention that section 8 of the War Crimes Act did not meet the standard of lex certa (certain law). Both arguments were rejected and the application declared inadmissible [see paras 68ff and 96]

• 4 Aug | Gay marriage ruling due (US): From SCOTUSblog in the US, this refers to a high-profile case in California. This will be interesting in the context of our recent post: Has the time come for gay marriage in the UK?

• 4 Aug | Legal rights for some, if some people say so: Joshua Rozenberg highlights some more of the good stuff from Lord Neuberger’s judgments. We are fans: see New head of Court of Appeal making waves on civil liberties

• 3 Aug | Budget cuts could break equality laws, Theresa May warned chancellor: This relates to the Fawcett Society’s attempt to judicially review the Government’s budget, on the basis that it was not compliant with recent equality law mandating a discrimination impact assessment. Watch this space.

• 3 Aug | Law of confidence – the trump card in matrimonial proceedings: An analysis from the Panopticon Blog of the recent landmark divorce ruling on improperly obtained evidence (see Stolen documents divorce ruling a blow to human rights of poorer partners?)

• 3 Aug | Factoring in gender equality can prevent costly errors: More on discrimination challenges to the budget.

• 1 Aug | Court of Appeal refuses permission for Imerman appeal to Supreme Court: This decision may itself be appealed. It seems likely that this will go to the Supreme Court as it is such an important point of legal principle.

• 1 Aug | Case Law: Venables Anonymity Judgment « Inforrm’s Blog: “There is understandable and legitimate public interest in the fact that one of James Bulger’s killers has now been convicted of child pornography offences. That fact and the details of those offences can now be (and have been since last Friday) freely reported. But there is no legitimate public interest in knowing his appearance, his location in custody; or the exact location at which he was arrested and to which he might return in the event of being released; or, if there is, it is of marginal significance when set against the compelling evidence of a clear and present danger to his physical safety and indeed his life if these facts are made public.”

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