Catch up with the latest news.
Court rules on extradition of alleged terrorists
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that detention conditions and length of sentences of five alleged terrorists would not amount to ill-treatment if they were extradited to the USA.The case of Babar Ahmad and Others v. the United Kingdom concerned six alleged international terrorists – Babar Ahmad, Haroon… Read more ...Calls for Government to amend the US-UK Extradition Treaty
The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee has recommended that the Government seek major amendments to the 2003 US-UK Extradition Treaty. The Committee's inquiry, which began in 2010, took evidence from those who had been involved in the extradition process as defendants, lawyers, campaigners, prosecutors and judges.The recommendations made by… Read more ...Basic rights for crime victims across the EU
All crime victims should have the same basic rights across the EU, and should have their specific needs assessed, under a draft EU directive setting minimum protection standards unanimously endorsed by the Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights committees. An estimated 75 million people are victims of crime every year in… Read more ...Amnesty International gives evidence on human trafficking
Amnesty International has recently been giving evidence on human trafficking to the Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities Committee, in which it raises concerns about the lack of prosecutions for human trafficking in Scotland.Shabnum Mustapha, Programme Director for Amnesty in Scotland, said:"There have been 150 convictions for trafficking offences in England and… Read more ...International Criminal Court verdict
Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided unanimously that Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is guilty, as a co-perpetrator, of the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities from 1st September 2002 to 13th August… Read more ...Containment within police cordon did not amount to deprivation of liberty
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that, in the case Austin and Others v. the United Kingdom, there had been no violation of Article 5 (right to liberty and security) of the European Convention on Human Rights.The case concerned a complaint by a demonstrator and some passers-by that… Read more ...Confiscation of criminal assets
The European Commission has proposed new rules to allow for more effective recovery of assets acquired through crime. The new rules will enhance the ability of Member States to confiscate assets that have been transferred to third parties, it will make it easier to confiscate criminal assets even when the… Read more ...Scottish police reform must include human rights
The Scottish Government and Parliament should seize the historic opportunity in reforming police services in Scotland to embed human rights principles into the new structures from their inception.The call comes in a submission from the Scottish Human Rights Commission to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee consultation on the Police and… Read more ...Government's secret justice plans may cost millions
According to human rights organisation, Reprieve, the Government’s own assessment of its plans for secret courts has warned that they could cost an extra £11 million every year, and lead to a “higher risk of potential security breaches.” The warnings are contained in an Impact Assessment of the Government’s plans… Read more ...