Government and Parliament
European Union (Accessions) Act 2006: approves Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to EU (on 1 January 2007); section 2 gives Secretary of State power to make regulations about free movement rights for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals. Click here for the text.
Equality Act 2006: creates Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) in place of Commission for Racial Equality, Equal Opportunities Commission and Disability Rights Commission, makes discrimination on religious and sexual orientation grounds unlawful and imposes equality and human rights duties on public bodies. Click here for the text.
Case law
Commission v Spain, Case No C-503/03, (ECJ judgment, 31.1.06): by refusing entry into the Schengen Area to third country national spouses of Member State nationals, solely on the basis of an SIS alert for the purposes of refusing them entry, without first verifying whether their presence constituted a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society, Spain has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 1 to 3 of Directive 64/221. Click here for further information.
GH (Afghanistan) [2005] EWCA Civ 1603: a very useful case by the Court of Appeal, just spotted, reinstating an immigration judge's assessment that the grim living conditions facing a family in Afghanistan were so bad as to breach their Article 3 rights. Click here for further information.
R (K) v Asylum Support Adjudicator [2006] EWHC 246 (Admin): permission refused on argument that section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, removing asylum support from families who don't take steps to leave the UK following dismissal of an asylum appeal, is unlawful. Appeal pending to CA..
SC (Double Jeopardy - WC considered) China CG [2006] UKAIT 00007: no real risk of re-prosecution in China for snakehead. Click here for further information.
Coming up: AA and LK in the Court of Appeal on 6 March (the Zimbabwe - perception of forced returnees as British spies - asylum cases.
Events
Liberty at LSE: No torture no compromise: extraordinary rendition; allegations and evidence, public meeting with Phillippe Sands QC, chair Shami Chakrabarti, 6 March at 7.30, free, first come first served.
Migrant Voices and Wild Geese theatre tour: Two plays by Banner Theatre examine the real-life experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in twenty-first century Britain from the point of view of the migrants themselves, exploring their hopes, dreams and realities. For details of venues, times etc Click here for further information.
Reminders
Human rights and Islamophobia, lunchtime lecture by Imran Khan, British Institute for Human Rights, 9 March 2006, 1.00-2.00pm at the Lecture Theatre, Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, free. Click here for further information.
HIV/AIDS and law: theory, practice and policy: a free seminar at BirkbeckCollege, Malet Street, London W1 on 10.3.06, 9.30 to 5.00. Click here for further information. : Placeslimited; to book email d.m@bbk.ac.uk by 27 February.
Extradition, Deportation and Rendition: Protecting rights across the border: a one-day conference organised by JUSTICE and Sweet & Maxwell. 31 March 2006. £325 + VAT (£295 + VAT for JUSTICE members). Click here for further information.
Seminars
Garden Court Chambers seminars
2nd March 06: Immigration and family seminar looking at how immigration issues can affect the parties in family cases.
10th March 06 Trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation - an all day conference costing £85 + VAT.
11th May 06 Crime and immigration seminar - a free evening seminar.
29th June 06 Labour and business migration - a free afternoon seminar
For further information please click here
Other seminar and training providers
ILPA training: Immigration Aspects of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, 28 March, 4.00-7.15 at St Bride?s House. 3 CPD points.
AIT appeals: London training 13 March, Leeds training 22 March. For details of ILPA training click here
Reports
United Kingdom - Human rights: a broken promise", AI Index: EUR 45/004/2006. Looks at the impact of anti-terrorism laws in particular, and the attempts to erode the independence of the judiciary. Click here for further information.
