human rights
The Armed Forces Bill: lost opportunities and some dubious proposals
The Armed Forces Bill proposes important changes to the military justice system and will make civil society obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant a legal duty. We look at these and other matters of interest that have come up in the process.
Centre for Military Justice
The Centre for Military Justice provide access to free, independent, expert legal advice when dealing with serious bullying, sexual harassment, gender-based violence or other forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination, and to bereaved military families needing legal support and representation when dealing with the aftermath of a service death.The helpline number is 0203 848 6820 or contact them on email.
Creating barriers to justice
We take a look at the extensive criticism that the controversial Overseas Operations Bill is gathering as it makes its way through Parliament and how, without serious challenge, this self interested legislation will create barriers to justice for all those caught up in warfare.
The Overseas Operations Bill: A Tale Of Two Militarisms?
The Labour party is finally engaging with a bill that could rewrite the law around prosecutions for actions in war and the derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to overseas operations.
Boris Johnson’s government and the military: a look ahead at 2020
Could you take a seat for the next generation?
Our Peaceworker, Jen Harrison, writes about attending the DSEI arms fair and how arms companies target young people as future employees and supporters.
Facts or Anecdotes? The battle for the truth over the outcomes of military service
We look at recent reports on the levels of abuse in the armed forces and growing ackowledgement of the systemic failures in how complaints are handled.
Scottish Government ignores child rights concerns around armed forces activities in schools
06/09/2019
Quakers in Scotland and ForcesWatch are disappointed that the Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament have decided to close further investigation of how to implement their own recommendations around oversight of armed forces activities in schools.
The death and inquest of Geoff Gray
The third re-inquest in relation to the four Deepcut deaths of young soldiers has returned a verdict of suicide despite lack of proof and illustrates again the imbalance of power between the institutions of the military and the individual.
The case for unionising the army
With the military's complaints system being called 'fundamentally dysfunctional' and its justice system 'second rate', we look at calls for expanding the rights of military personnel and allowing self-organisation through unionisation.