Government supports new resources to combat Digital Stalking
The Equalities Minister recently helped launch a new anti stalking initiative set up by Women's Aid. This organisation has teamed up with national stalking charity Network for Surviving Stalking to launch a practical guide for victims of stalking.
'Digital stalking: a guide to technology risks for victims' is an important resource for all stalking victims, including the many survivors of domestic violence who are being stalked by an ex-partner. It explains the wide range of technological risks for those being stalked, including use of Spyware on personal computers, tracking devices on mobile phones and tracking of information through social networking sites.
With over 18% of women and 9% of men experiencing stalking since the age of 16, stalking affects a wide range of people. However, stalking by ex-partners accounts for the largest group of victims and women are most at risk from physical assault and fatal harm. The guidelines contain practical advice on how to reduce the risk of being stalked online. They can also be used for training organisations which deal with stalking and domestic violence cases, including the police and other key agencies. Fact sheets have been produced, including:-
All 20 clubs in football Premier League sign up to fight discrimination
The government's Sports Charter to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport received a decisive boost earlier this month when all twenty clubs in the Premier League signed up. They have committed to challenge discrimination and work to rid football of homophobic and transphobic abuse both in the stands and on the field.
The voluntary Charter, launched by the Home Office last year, unites everyone who follows sport behind a pledge to reject homophobia and transphobia. With world famous Premier League clubs on board the government say the Charter's message will reach more fans than ever.
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said:
'The whole world admires the skill and competitive drama on display in our football grounds but too often we also see the worst of intolerance and discrimination. That's why the government launched the Sports Charter last year. It's a rallying cry for all of us to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport. Everyone with an interest in sport will want to spread the message that homophobic and transphobic abuse is never acceptable.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said: 'The Premier League and our member clubs believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport - whoever they are and whatever their background."
The initiative follows on the "Kick Racism out of Football" campaign and on the heels of some recent publicity concerning allegations of racism between a Liverpool and a Manchester United player. There are also criminal proceedings relating to racism pending against the former England Captain
B&B owners lose appeal over refusal to let double room to gay couple
As we went to press, breaking news emerged that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has successfully defended an appeal in the Court of Appeal against a ruling in the County Court which found that hotel owners had directly discriminated against a gay couple.
The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Bull appealed against the County Court's decision that they were wrong to refuse a Mr. Preddy and a Mr. Hall a double room for the night in their hotel. The owners said that their hotel rule, based on their Christian faith, was that no unmarried couples could share a double room.
The Court of Appeal agreed with the County Court that the hotel's rule directly discriminated against civil partners Mr. Preddy and Mr. Hall. The couple were treated differently because of their sexual orientation as it is not possible for a gay couple to marry.
In the appeal ruling the judges noted that both sides recognised the strongly held views of the other, and the Commission went to great lengths to reassure Mr. and Mrs. Bull that their beliefs were not under question.
The judges took into consideration the fact that discrimination law had changed and that Mr. and Mrs. Bull had been running their hotel along Christian principles for decades. They noted the owners' right to manifest their religion and protection from religious discrimination.
However, the judges ruled that religious belief does not offer an exemption from laws that everyone running a business has to follow. Equality law already has exemptions for religious organisations, which the judges noted the hotel was not.
The court dismissed the Bull's claim that their right to a private life would be compromised by allowing gay couples to sleep in a double room. The Bulls could manifest their beliefs in many ways outside of their business interests, including in their home which is separate from the hotel.
Mr. Preddy and Mr. Hall brought a claim for discrimination based on their sexual orientation under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2007. This law is now part of the Equality Act 2010. They were successful in their County Court claim and now the Court of Appeal has upheld that decision, they have been awarded £1,800 each in compensation. The Commission funded both Mr. Preddy and Mr. Hall's discrimination claim and their defence to Mr. and Mrs. Bull's appeal. It supported their case to establish an important principle of law and says the litigation was taken purely in the public interest. As a publicly funded body the Commission says it has a duty to protect public funds but given the circumstances it intends to seek the authority not to recover its costs in this case.
Disabled people have rights restricted when flying -new ruling
The Court of Appeal has just dismissed two discrimination claims supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission who say this has now "narrowed the rights of disabled people when flying."
The Commission is considering taking the case of Mr. Tony Hook against British Airways and Christopher Stott's case against Thomas Cook to the Supreme Court.
Both claims were made under Regulation 9 of the Civil Aviation (Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility) Regulations 2007. This UK law implemented a European Convention (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006) about the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air. This includes the requirement to consider making pro active reasonable adjustments in order to secure equality of access to on board services and facilities.
But the judges decided that international rules on air travel - the Montreal Convention - should take precedence over domestic law on accessibility and discrimination on board airplanes.
This ruling means that, after boarding the plane, disabled passengers are not covered by UK law and the European Regulation on air travel. Nor can disabled people seek compensation from the airline if they are discriminated against during a flight. The Commission believes that the Montreal Convention, which covers injury, death and loss of baggage, is irrelevant to the claims of disabled travellers. It does not deal with discrimination, so should not affect disabled passengers' rights.
Extracted from Equality Matters - Training Works February 2012
Agency Worker Regulations
The new Agency Worker regulations come into force on the 1st of October 2011.
Agency workers are classed as "workers" rather than as employees. All workers, including agency workers, are entitled to certain rights which include: For further information and guidance go to the ACAS website: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1873
Submitted by mfalter on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:49 http://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/
The 2010/2011 Tribunal Services statistics are out, showing fewer employees are taking their (former) employers to court for most discrimination jurisdictions.
Age discrimination claims are on the rise, increasing 24% from 5,200 cases in 2009/10 to 6,800 in 2010/2011. Having only been given protected legal status in 2006, a rapid burst of cases brought forward is not unexpected. (The number of age discrimination cases has jumped 86% in the past 5 years.)
However, while sex discrimination and unfair dismissal related to pregnancy numbers have held steady, all other discrimination jurisdiction case numbers have fallen – race and religious belief cases are down 14% each from last year. The overall number of discrimination claims (including sex, disability, race, unfair dismissal – pregnancy, religious belief, sexual orientation and age) has only risen 1% (40,210 to 40,720), compared to a 7% increase from 2008/9 to 2009/10.
Read the full report from the Ministry of Justice: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/tribs-stats/annual-tribunals-statistics-2010-11.pdf
For information www.itgetsbetter.org
