Latest news with #EuropeanConventionofHumanRights
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach, UK PM agree to work 'constructively' on Legacy Act issues
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer by phone this afternoon, with both leaders agreeing to work constructively on a framework for dealing with issues surrounding the Northern Ireland Legacy Act. Mr Starmer's government has come under pressure in recent days, with his Veterans Minister Alistair Carns reported to have threatened his resignation should British soldiers lose their immunity. The UK government has committed to repealing and replacing the controversial legislation, however some Labour backbenchers have expressed concern. Ireland took an inter-state case against the UK under the European Convention of Human Rights, after the former Conservative government introduced the law. Today's phone call between Mr Martin and Mr Starmer was part of regular dialogue between both leaders and they agreed to continue working "constructively" on the Legacy Act. Separately, it is understood that Mr Starmer also thanked the Taoiseach for Ireland's support of the recent EU-UK Summit and subsequent agreement. During a "constructive" and "warm" phone-call, both leaders also talked about the Ireland-UK 2030 strategy which was agreed at the recent Ireland-UK Summit last march. It saw both countries sign up to closer cooperation in a number of areas including energy, security and trade. The relationship between both governments is understood to have improved significantly in recent months, since Mr Starmer embarked on a "reset" in relations between the UK, Ireland and other EU countries.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
James Cleverly says leaving ECHR is 'not silver bullet' - and leaves door open for leadership bid
Senior Tory Sir James Cleverly has said he is not convinced leaving the European Convention of Human Rights is a "silver bullet" to reduce criminal deportations - and would not rule out running for party leader. The former foreign and home secretary appeared to diverge from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's stance on the ECHR in a speech about the challenges facing the Conservative Party and UK politics in general. Politics latest: Last month, into whether the UK should withdraw from the treaty that is a central part of UK human rights law and has been used to halt attempts to deport illegal immigrants. She said she is "increasingly of the view" that leaving the ECHR would be necessary. But said when he was home secretary, from November 2023 to July 2024, he noticed the UK had "one of the lowest deportation rates" of foreign criminals "amongst our European neighbours" - who are also ECHR signatories. He said he was looking into why that was but the general election happened "before I got any credible answer". "But the bottom line is other signatories to the ECHR are kicking out foreign criminals much more than we are," he told the Institute for Public Policy. "And other countries who are not signatories to the ECHR are also struggling so I'm not convinced the ECHR is, on its own, a silver bullet. "Particularly if we don't do something about what I worry is a political activism in the legal system, which is trying to re-write British border immigration law policy through case law rather than through parliament." His comments are also in opposition to Robert Jenrick, who, like Sir James, unsuccessfully ran to be Tory leader, and has said the Tories must back leaving the ECHR to survive. Read more:Reform UK is on the march - there's just one problemMinister hints at tax rises in next budget I don't want to jump into leadership decision Sir James left the door open to trying again to become Conservative leader, saying he did not want to "jump" into any future political moves. Asked if he would try to become London mayor or Tory leader, he said: "I like being in government, I don't like being in opposition, which is why I'm clear that I will play my part in helping to get Conservatives back into government, at every level of government. "Exactly what I do next? I've forced a discipline on myself which is not to jump at something." He added that the Tories tried having a new leader "a number of times in the last government - it did not end well". The Braintree MP said after he lost the last leadership race he promised himself he "would spend some time thinking about exactly what I would do next". Voters will respond if Reform councils get stuff wrong In the speech, he also attacked Labour, Reform and all other parties, saying they tell people what they want to hear but do not have any "deliverable" policies. On the Conservatives' strategy to beat Reform, which has been polling ahead of all other parties, he told Sky News: "So at the moment, Reform are very, very popular, but now they're running stuff. "And as I've said, we've now got some examples in local government. "And local government is a bit of government people feel most important. "This is the bit of government that runs their adult social care, their roads, their schools, their waste collection and when governments get stuff like that wrong, people notice and people respond." He said if Reform councillors do not "step up and perform" voters will be looking for alternatives - "and that's what we need to do". "We need to make sure that we once again, are credible alternatives with a genuine plan and some energy and some direction," he added.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caster Semenya's right to a fair hearing was violated, ECHR rules
Track and field athlete Caster Semenya's right to a fair hearing was violated by the Swiss judicial system, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled. The 34-year-old has been unable to compete in her favoured 800 metres event since 2019, following the introduction of limits on testosterone levels for female athletes by World Athletics. Advertisement Semenya was legally identified as female at birth but has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than women without the condition. She was unsuccessful in challenging World Athletics' rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Swiss federal court, but in July 2023 a lower chamber of the ECHR found her rights had been violated by the Swiss government because it had failed to provide sufficient safeguards for her complaint to be examined effectively. The Swiss government referred the case to the ECHR's Grand Chamber in November 2023 and on Thursday morning, it was announced its judges had found by a 15 to two majority that Semenya's rights under Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights – the right to a fair hearing – had been violated. Advertisement A press release issued by the court said the judges had found the Swiss courts had 'fallen short' in providing what they felt should have been a 'rigorous judicial review that was commensurate with the seriousness of the personal rights at issue'. The ECHR ruling, which cannot be appealed, should mean the case returns to the Swiss federal court. The Grand Chamber ruled by a majority of 13 to four that complaints under Article 8 (right to respect for private life), Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) were inadmissible. It found Semenya did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction in respect of those complaints. Seema Patel, an associate professor specialising in sports law at the Nottingham Law School, had said prior to the Semenya decision being handed down that it would be a 'pivotal moment for how sport engages with human rights in its rule making'. Advertisement World Athletics has not been a party to either of the ECHR proceedings but at the time of the 2023 ruling by the lower chamber it said it stood by its rules on lowering testosterone, describing them as 'a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category'. Caster Semenya was a gold medal winner in the women's 800m at the 2016 Rio Olympics, having also won the same event at London 2012 (Martin Rickett/PA) Earlier this year, track and field's global governing body strengthened its rules in this area further when its ruling council approved the introduction of cheek swab tests to determine biological sex. The introduction of these tests are designed to ensure only athletes found to be biologically female can compete in the female category, effectively barring transgender women and some athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD). Advertisement Semenya's legal team and World Athletics have been contacted for comment following the Grand Chamber ruling.
The 42
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Caster Semenya's right to a fair hearing was violated, ECHR rules
TRACK AND FIELD athlete Caster Semenya's right to a fair hearing was violated by the Swiss judicial system, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled. The 34-year-old has been unable to compete in her favoured 800 metres event since 2019, following the introduction of limits on testosterone levels for female athletes by World Athletics. Advertisement Semenya was legally identified as female at birth but has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than women without the condition. She was unsuccessful in challenging World Athletics' rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Swiss federal court, but in July 2023 a lower chamber of the ECHR found her rights had been violated by the Swiss government because it had failed to provide sufficient safeguards for her complaint to be examined effectively. The Swiss government referred the case to the ECHR's Grand Chamber in November 2023 and on Thursday morning, it was announced its judges had found by a 15 to two majority that Semenya's rights under Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights – the right to a fair hearing – had been violated. A press release issued by the court said the judges had found the Swiss courts had 'fallen short' in providing what they felt should have been a 'rigorous judicial review that was commensurate with the seriousness of the personal rights at issue'. The ECHR ruling, which cannot be appealed, should mean the case returns to the Swiss federal court. The Grand Chamber ruled by a majority of 13 to four that complaints under Article 8 (right to respect for private life), Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) were inadmissible. It found Semenya did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction in respect of those complaints. Seema Patel, an associate professor specialising in sports law at the Nottingham Law School, had said prior to the Semenya decision being handed down that it would be a 'pivotal moment for how sport engages with human rights in its rule making'.
Glasgow Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Caster Semenya's right to a fair hearing was violated, ECHR rules
The 34-year-old has been unable to compete in her favoured 800 metres event since 2019, following the introduction of limits on testosterone levels for female athletes by World Athletics. Semenya was legally identified as female at birth but has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than women without the condition. She was unsuccessful in challenging World Athletics' rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Swiss federal court, but in July 2023 a lower chamber of the ECHR found her rights had been violated by the Swiss government because it had failed to provide sufficient safeguards for her complaint to be examined effectively. Grand Chamber judgment Semenya v. Switzerland – Complaint by international athlete concerning set of World Athletics regulationshttps:// #CEDH #ECHRpress — ECHR CEDH (@ECHR_CEDH) July 10, 2025 The Swiss government referred the case to the ECHR's Grand Chamber in November 2023 and on Thursday morning, it was announced its judges had found by a 15 to two majority that Semenya's rights under Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights – the right to a fair hearing – had been violated. A press release issued by the court said the judges had found the Swiss courts had 'fallen short' in providing what they felt should have been a 'rigorous judicial review that was commensurate with the seriousness of the personal rights at issue'. The ECHR ruling, which cannot be appealed, should mean the case returns to the Swiss federal court. The Grand Chamber ruled by a majority of 13 to four that complaints under Article 8 (right to respect for private life), Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) were inadmissible. It found Semenya did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction in respect of those complaints. Seema Patel, an associate professor specialising in sports law at the Nottingham Law School, had said prior to the Semenya decision being handed down that it would be a 'pivotal moment for how sport engages with human rights in its rule making'. World Athletics has not been a party to either of the ECHR proceedings but at the time of the 2023 ruling by the lower chamber it said it stood by its rules on lowering testosterone, describing them as 'a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category'. Caster Semenya was a gold medal winner in the women's 800m at the 2016 Rio Olympics, having also won the same event at London 2012 (Martin Rickett/PA) Earlier this year, track and field's global governing body strengthened its rules in this area further when its ruling council approved the introduction of cheek swab tests to determine biological sex. The introduction of these tests are designed to ensure only athletes found to be biologically female can compete in the female category, effectively barring transgender women and some athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD). Semenya's legal team and World Athletics have been contacted for comment following the Grand Chamber ruling.
