Disability and the Human Rights Act

The UK Government is proposing to “replace the Human Rights Act (HRA) with a modern Bill of Rights” and the issue is currently under consultation. The HRA is a unique piece of legalisation because it provides direct access to the European Convention of Human Rights through British courts. Public bodies also must consider human rights. The HRA has played a significant role in safeguarding the rights of disabled people who find themselves under the protection of the state, whether that be through mental health provisions, health and social care or the criminal justice system.

July is Disability Pride Month, which is an apt reminder of the need for acceptance, the removal of disabling practices and the protection of rights. This Disability Pride Month, we will explore the role of the HRA on the lives of disabled people, the consequences of repealing it and the opportunities that could follow.

Speakers:

Daniel Holt

Daniel is a future Pupil Barrister at 39 Essex Chambers. He is also the Founding Chair of the Association of Disabled Lawyers (‘ADL’), which was the first independent, pan-profession organisation of people working in and studying law with impairments and physical and mental health conditions. The ADL is a community and network raising awareness of the fact that disabled people and people with health conditions can study and practice law. It also champions the welfare and rights of disabled people and people with health conditions in wider society. It achieves its aims through engagement, events, campaigning and research.

Daniel was educated in special needs schools and is a seasoned disability rights activist. He has engaged with the Bar Standards Board, Legal Services Board, Solicitors Regulatory Authority, and many other organisations to help improve the experiences of lawyers and students with health conditions. He was a Disability Rights UK Trustee until 31st December 2019 when his second term came to an end. Daniel was ‘highly commended’ at the European Diversity Awards 2018 and is a recipient of Middle Temple’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Award, Blackstone Exhibition Award and Certificate of Honour. He had previously received a Campaign of the Year Award for his work on improving accessibility.

Svetlana Kotova,

Svetlana is a disabled lawyer who has spent many years fighting for the rights of Disabled people. She currently works for Inclusion London and managed their Disability Justice Project, and now leads the Policy, Campaigns and Justice team. Over the last 12 years she has worked in various advice and policy roles, enabling Disabled people to fight for their rights at local and international level. Svetlana is passionate about ensuring Disabled people have equal rights and can use the law effectively to tackle discrimination and social injustice.

Kamran Mallick

Kamran Mallick joined Disability Rights UK as its Chief Executive in July 2017. He is the former Chief Executive of Action on Disability, the Hammersmith-based disability organisation, where he worked for 13 years. Kamran has also worked for the spinal injury charity Aspire as well as running his own training and consultancy business. He serves on the boards of the Lyric Hammersmith, Wheels for Wellbeing and Lloyds Bank Foundation. He is a former chair of Candoco dance company and board member of Inclusion London. He is also a member of Gatwick Airport Passenger Experience Group and a former member of Transport for London’s Independent Disability Advisory Group. Kamran was included in the Shaw Trusts Powerlist 100 – Most influential disabled people in 2018 and was in the top 10 in 2020.

Louise Whitfield

Louise Whitfield worked at the Public Law Project and Deighton Pierce Glynn, specialising in judicial review and discrimination cases, before taking up the position of Head of Legal Casework at Liberty. She is one of the leading practitioners on the public sector equality duty and has worked closely with the women’s sector and Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations on a number of human rights issues affecting them and their service-users

Reasonable Adjustments

British Sign Language interpretation will be provided. Please do let us know if we can provide other adjustments that remove barriers to your full enjoyment and participation.