Human Rights

EU Agencies Develop Asylum Rights Training Module

March 17, 2016

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") has announced that, with EU member states and the EU border agency Frontex, it is supporting the European Asylum Support Office's development of a "module" that will seek to train border officials on how to respect the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.
UK Serial Killer Claims Isolated Imprisonment Violates ECHR

March 16, 2016

The Daily Mail reports that convicted serial killer Joanna Dennehy is seeking compensation from the British government because the impact of her segregated confinement in prison, due to a planned breakout attempt, violated the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").
Norway Mass Killer: Solitary Confinement Violates ECHR

March 16, 2016

A convicted mass killer is suing the Norwegian government over the conditions of his imprisonment, arguing that his solitary confinement and other treatment violates the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").
EU Launches Draft "Pillar of Social Rights"

March 09, 2016

The European Commission has published and asked for public consultation on a draft outline of a European Pillar of Social Rights that seeks to bolster welfare and labor rights in the EU.
CoE Report Sets out Rights in "Culturally Diverse Societies"

March 09, 2016

A report from the Council of Europe ("CoE") Committee of Ministers describes how CoE member countries must protect human rights in "culturally diverse societies," including by avoiding "multiple discrimination" against groups and furthering "reasonable accommodation" to ensure the fulfillment of human rights.
FRA Provides Rights Training for "Forced Return" Monitors

March 09, 2016

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") recently gathered 20 monitors from national bodies charged with observing the "forced return" of migrants located in EU countries to countries outside the EU in order to train them in potential fundamental rights violations.
CoE Chief: Anti-Migrant Strategies Violate Rights

March 02, 2016

In a speech at the UN Human Rights Council, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe ("CoE") Thorbjørn Jagland argued that national measures seeking to prevent immigration at the borders of European countries violate global and European human rights obligations and called Hungary's referendum on the EU's allocation of refugees "polarizing and irresponsible."
FRA Calls for "Proactive" Promotion of EU Rights Charter

February 24, 2016

At a seminar organized by the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") Michael O'Flaherty asserted that EU member states are legally obligated to promote on a "proactive" basis the rights of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and should use the Charter as an "ethical compass" as they deal with the migrant crisis.
ECtHR Penalizes Russia for Violations in MRT Region

February 24, 2016

Given its finding of reliance by the "Moldavian Republic of Transdniestria" ("MRT"), a "breakaway" region in Moldova, on Russian military and other support, the European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") concluded that Russia was responsible for the payment of damages to a former prisoner who complained of human rights violations by the MRT.
ECtHR Finds Immigration Law Violates Rights of Same-sex Couples

February 24, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") has concluded that a Croatian immigration law that excludes same-sex couples from using a family reunification provision to gain entry for a member of the couple into the country discriminated against such a couple in the exercise of its members' right to respect for private and family life.