Workplace Monitoring and the Right to Private Life at Work

In Barbulescu v Romania, the European Court of Human Rights clarified the application of the Article 8 right to private life in the workplace, and the extent of the state's positive obligations to protect the right against workplace monitoring. The decision establishes that there is an irreducible core to the right to private life at work that does not depend on an employee's reasonable expectations of privacy, and sets out clear principles for striking a fair balance between Article 8 and the employer's interests in the context of workplace monitoring. This article considers the nature of states’ positive obligation to protect human rights at work, the scope of the right to private life, and the impact of the decision on domestic law of unfair dismissal.     

UDHR and Modern Slavery: Exploring the Challenges of Fulfilling the Universal Promise to End Slavery in All Its Forms

This article reflects on the prohibition of slavery set out in article 4 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and analyses efforts undertaken in the years since to fulfil this commitment. It first addresses the evolution in the prohibition from historic forms of slavery to contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking. Second, the article examines the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the National Referral Mechanism to appreciate the UK's efforts to implement various international commitments to prohibit slavery, noting that the current focus towards criminalisation and the meagre support offered as victim protection does not constitute a sufficiently comprehensive strategy towards effective prohibition. Third, areas for reform are identified that could reorient government strategy toward more effective victim protection and support, starting with better identification of victims. And finally, the article argues in favour of actions that seek to prevent modern slavery crimes and abuse, including with a more robust regulatory framework that engages private sector actors to recognise the risks of slavery and exclude forced labour from supply chains.     

什么样的权利适合入宪?——从《宪法》第44条谈起

由于宪法本质上是人民为规范政府行为而对政府的立法,宪法权利是人民防御政府侵犯的工具,所以宪法权利与性质都体现在作为主权者的人民与政府的关系上。人民共同作为主权者的无差别性决定了宪法权利的普遍性,而普遍性又决定了基本性。另外,人民防御政府侵犯的宪法权利本质决定了宪法权利的消极性、直接性,其是公民对政府的权利,不是官员的权利。只有不违背这些性质,才可能是真实的宪法权利,才应当入宪。     

危险驾驶罪主观罪过之反思性检讨——兼论我国《刑法》第14条故意犯罪定义的完善

刑法修正案(八)中新增的危险驾驶罪,其具有行为犯的特质,性质上是一种行为犯类型;本罪的主观罪过是一种故意,但是不同于传统刑法理论对主观罪过的认定以对危害后果为标准来界定的情况,其是对危险驾驶行为本身的一种追求或放任,而非严重的危害结果;我国刑法第14条对故意犯罪的概念界定有必要作出修改,改变结果本位主义,向结果本位主义与行为主义并和的方向发展,给予行为犯以一席之地,消除对行为犯犯罪主观故意认定的争议。     

‘Yeah but,no but’ – Pinnock and Powell in the Supreme Court

This note considers the Supreme Court decisions in Manchester CC v Pinnock and Hounslow LBC v Powell. It is argued that there are a number of remaining outstanding questions around proportionality, including: deference; section 89, Housing Act 1980; procedural issues; ‘publicness’; and the future landscape.     

Al Rawi,Tariq, and the Future of Closed Material Procedures and Special Advocates

This note considers the impact of the Supreme Court's decisions in Al Rawi v The Security Service and Home Office v Tariq on the use of closed material procedures and special advocates. The government's subsequent Justice and Security Green Paper is also discussed.