Event: Using law and the courts to defend people’s rights – recent cases, developments & third sector involvement

September 1st 2019

About this Event

This afternoon seminar will look at recent cases defending people’s rights and discuss how organisations are already using and can use the law and litigation to protect human rights and effect change. We’ll hear talks from speakers involved in cases and speakers working with civil society organisations to help them use the law effectively and secure rights.

A year on from the launch of the Discussion Paper “Overcoming Barriers to Public Interest Litigation in Scotland”, we will reflect on progress made and what more needs to be done to open up public interest litigation in Scotland.

The event is free to attend but places are limited.

Start time: arrive from 12.15 for light lunch before the seminar starts at 1pm.

Confirmed speakers:

Fiona McPhail, Principal Solicitor at Shelter Scotland, which defends the right to a safe home and is one of the coalition of charities and solicitors challenging Serco’s asylum seeker lock-change evictions in Glasgow

Jen Ang, Co-Director of JustRight Scotland, human rights lawyers using the law to help civil society organisations defend and extend people’s rights

Julia Donnelly, Head of Representation at Clan Childlaw, which defends the rights of children and young people through legal case work and targeted projects

Mhairi Snowden, Coordinator of Human Rights Consortium Scotland, the civil society network to promote and protect human rights

Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International’s Programme Director Scotland

Sara Lomri, Deputy Legal Director of the Public Law Project, who works with civil society organisations to develop understanding of how and when to use the law most effectively to bring about systemic change