United Kingdom: Human Rights

A groundbreaking three-year partnership between Olliers Solicitors and Greater Manchester Youth Network launches the 'Seen, Heard, Diverted' initiative to address the shocking statistic that 80% of children in the youth justice system are neurodivergent. Can early intervention, rights education, and professional training prevent the systemic criminalisation of autistic and ADHD children across Greater Manchester?

Northern Ireland's Assembly has passed legislation establishing a Truth Recovery Public Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses operating between 1922 and 1995. The inquiry faces the complex challenge of building upon extensive prior research while navigating questions of scope, evidence handling, and balancing trauma-informed procedures with legal fairness requirements.

Family court proceedings can be overwhelming and stressful, particularly for vulnerable individuals who may struggle to fully participate and provide evidence. When communication difficulties, neurodivergence, mental health challenges, or age-related factors come into play, the legal process can become even more daunting and potentially unfair.

A global organization launches a critical report examining how AI transparency tools and content provenance systems, designed to promote trust and verify authenticity, could paradoxically be weaponized against journalists, human rights defenders, and documentary filmmakers in hostile political environments. The analysis explores the unintended surveillance risks embedded in digital watermarking and content credential technologies now being integrated into cameras, mobile devices, and distribution platforms.

The UK government proposed a number of amendments to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA) as part of the Immigration and Asylum Bill (the Bill) it introduced on 30 June 2026. This included changes to Section 54 of the MSA, which currently imposes a duty to prepare a modern slavery statement for each financial year on companies.

Immigration law expert Alex Piletska examines the critical distinction between validity and eligibility in UK visa applications, exploring when applications can be deemed invalid by the Home Office and whether such determinations can be remedied. The briefing provides essential guidance for immigration practitioners on navigating validity requirements under Paragraph 34 of the Immigration Rules and best practices when applications are incorrectly invalidated.

Arbitration is increasingly being used to resolve family disputes involving children, but many assume it cannot handle cases with safeguarding concerns. This article examines whether that assumption holds true and explores how a more nuanced, risk-based approach could expand the safe use of arbitration in children cases where protective measures can be effectively managed.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has laid its draft Code of Practice for services before Parliament, introducing substantial changes following the For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definitions. While primarily governing service provision rather than workplace discrimination, the updated guidance may offer valuable insights for employers navigating the practical implications of recent case law developments in this evolving area.

The UK government has announced significant changes to industrial action laws, including new protections against detrimental treatment for striking workers and the introduction of electronic and workplace balloting options.