UN & the UK
UNA-UK has hosted an expert roundtable on reforming the UNHRC, considering the UNHRC’s successes and failures over the last decade, and where the UK Government could take a proactive role in pushing for reform.
Evaluation of UK’s international obligations
Amnesty International has criticised the UK’s attitude towards human rights improvements in Bahrain. The organisation has argued that, though there has been progress, there are serious shortcomings in UK-backed human rights bodies which promised reform in 2011.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to the UK political parties asking them to tone down their Brexit rhetoric due to the rise in racist, homophobic etc attacks that have taken place since the vote, undermining international values and standards of equality.
Following the judgment of R (Johnson) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] UKSC 56 in the Supreme Court, the UK Constitutional Law Association has published an article discussing whether courts issuing declarations of incompatibility with the Human Rights Act 1998 should focus on determining the case before them or go further and provide a broader remedy.
UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU
Britain’s negotiators for Brexit claim to be confident that Britain has a strong hand and considerable leverage; the question is how this will be used in the negotiations. Hosting Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, Theresa May has discussed Brexit and defence cooperation, aiming to maintain close contact between the two countries. Mark Carney has urged the government to seek transitional arrangements with the EU during Brexit negotiations to smooth the path for UK companies and maintain financial stability. The UK’s most experienced negotiator, Lord Kerr, has stated that the government has less than a 50% chance of securing an orderly exit from the EU within two years, and there is likely to be “a decade of uncertainty”. The Government has attempted to play down a memo caught on camera that suggests the UK is looking to “have its cake and eat it” in the upcoming negotiations to leave the European Union. Downing Street will start regular briefings for London-based foreign media, in recognition that it needs to start fighting a media was ahead of Brexit negotiations.
This week the art 50 challenge will be heard by eleven Justices in the Supreme Court. The UKSC blog is live blogging the hearing.
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