Human Rights

French President Macron Closes ENA

April 12, 2021

President Macron has announced the closure of the highly selective French National School of Administration (ENA), which has trained the country’s ruling class since 1945, in hope’s of reforming top civil servants’ recruitment and training.
French GDPR Ruling Addresses US Surveillance Powers

April 07, 2021

Addressing a recent claim that the vaccination program scheduling site held security risks for patient data, the Conseil d’État ruled that organizations can deploy legal and technical safeguards to meet their obligations under EU data protection law when seeking to prevent US authorities from accessing personal data stored with their outsourcing providers.
UK to Pilot COVID Certificates

April 07, 2021

As the U.K. heads towards reopening the economy, Britain will start piloting domestic COVID certificates this month, granting access to selected venues including sports stadiums and nightclubs, to those who have had the vaccine or natural immunity, but businesses, including pubs and restaurants, will not be required to ask customers to prove their COVID status due to concerns of discrimination.
Venice Commission Publishes 13 Opinions

March 29, 2021

The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission published 13 opinions that were adopted during its plenary session , which was held entirely online due to continued COVID-19 restriction.
EU to Propose Digital Green Pass for Travel

March 03, 2021

Politico reports that the European Commission will propose a new digital green pass to re-open travel that will include proof of the traveller's vaccination as well as the results of recent COVID-19 tests.
Civil Rights Coalition Petitions EU to Ban Biometric Surveillance

February 24, 2021

As the EU plans to announce new laws on artificial intelligence this year, a coalition made up of civil and digital rights groups has launched a petition to pressure the European Union into banning biometric mass surveillance due to systemic abuses of people’s biometric data.
Ukraine Takes Russia To ECtHR Over 'Targeted Assassinations'

February 24, 2021

Ukraine has filed a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) accusing Russia of the "targeted assassinations" of "perceived opponents" which Kyiv says is in a violation of the « right to life » stipulated in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
UK To Create New Role to Protect Freedom of Speech

February 17, 2021

The UK government has announced plans for the creation of a post on the Office for Students' (OfS) board whose role will be to ensure that freedom of speech and expression is not stifled on university campuses nationwide.
Sidley: Rise of ESG Due Diligence in Europe

February 15, 2021

As the European Commission plans to propose new legislation introducing mandatory human rights due diligence for EU companies continues, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs has published a draft report revealing more of what will be required by EU companies.
Free Speech Debate after French Teen's Anti-Muslim Post Sparks Death Threats, Arrests

February 10, 2021

French police arrested five people in connection with death threats made against a teenager for her online video messages against Islam, which has sparked a debate over freedom of speech in the country.