JISC Legal : Human Rights

An examination of the most relevant human rights in the context of colleges and universities.

An examination of the most relevant human rights in the context of colleges and universities.

An aspect report by HM Inspectors on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council to identify approaches and best practice and to make recommendations for improvement.

This guidance document examines the Digital Economy Act 2010 and its implications for universities and colleges in the UK.

This overview paper briefly clarifies the current situation with regard to retention of communications traffic data by certain UK organisations.

RecordKeeping was published quarterly between 2004 and 2009 covering news, case studies and examples of best practice from The National Archives and the wider archives and records management communities. 

The vast majority of government records are now produced electronically and The National Archives works with central and local government organisations to ensure that this information is both stored securely and easily accessible.

Good records and information management is essential if the government is to meet the requirements of Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Human Rights legislation.  Under agreement with the ICO this is done through a programme of information management assessments.

A JISC study to explore the Legal and Records Management Issues relating to the concept of the Lifelong Learner record.

This paper considers what the legal issues are in relation to institutional ePortfolio systems.

A JISC study to explore the Legal and Records Management Issues relating to the concept of the Lifelong Learner record.

A consultation by the GEO seeks views on proposals for draft regulations on the new public sector equality duty.

A working party representing 37 EU countries is currently negotiating the Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) which intends to tackle online copyright infringements on an international level.

On 8 April 2010 the Equality Act received royal assent after completing its parliamentary process.

The Digital Economy Act 2010 was given royal assent late on Thursday, 8 April 2010, following the final reading of the Digital Economy Bill in the House of Commons, the previous night.

A surprise amendment forced through for controversial clause 17 of the Digital Economy Bill could lead to entire sites being forced offline if it becomes law.

The Royal Bank of Scotland recently lost their appeal against the decision that they were in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.  

On the 24 April 2009 the Equality Bill was introduced in the House of Commons and was published on 27 April with a view to achieving Royal Assent in the spring 2010.

In response to a call from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) the government are consulting on amending the Data Protection Act 1998.

The Ministry of Justice seeks views on updating defamation law so it is fit for the modern age.

The definition of a public authority for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998 is being clarified in a new parliamentary bill

The ICO has published privacy notice codes of practice.

European Court of Human Rights maintains a new defamation action can be brought for every access to online defamatory material.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a photograph taken without consent breached a person's right to a private life.

The House of Lords, in the case of London Borough of Lewisham v Malcolm [2008] UKHL 43, clarifies the meaning of "less favourable treatment" in relation to disability discrimination.

Government is criticised for not giving the issue of safeguarding personal data sufficient importance when formulating primary legislation.

PRS and PPL licensing are two independent schemes that represent the interests of different rights holders for the use recorded and live music in public performances.

Is a college infringing student rights to privacy by using remote monitoring on PCs where private email correspondence is taking place?

Do Human Rights apply to instances within FE and HE institutions when a student's rights are being determined?

Is there a right to further or higher education?

These questions are based on queries posted to our enquiry service.

This paper considers what the legal issues are in relation to institutional ePortfolio systems.

Guidance for public sector organisationsaims to make current equality law more consistent, clearer and easier to follow in order to make society fairer.

Guidance for organisations and employers on the implications of the Equality Act 2010 available at: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010/equality_act_2010_what_do_i_n.aspx. 

JISC TechDis, a JISC Advance service, works with the HE and FE sector in the UK in the field of accessibility and inclusion. http://www.techdis.ac.uk

Useful Links to Human Rights resources.

FAIFE is an initiative within IFLA (International Federation of Library Association and Institutions), which seeks to defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It provides documentation on the actual situation concerning libraries, librarianship and intellectual freedom around the world.The original statement was issued 25th March 1999.
http://www.ifla.org/faife/policy/iflastat/iflastat.htm.