Things to know before You Contact us:
We can advise you when:
1. Your Human Rights have been contravened by a Public body, notably Articles 8 and 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and any other scenario where a Public Authority has failed to afford you Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity, and your right to Autonomy [the FREDA principles contained in the Human Rights 1998]
2. You have faced detrimental discrimination in work, employment or vocational training
3. You have faced detrimental discrimination when accessing housing, goods or services.
4. You are having problems obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate.
5. Your privacy has been breached by a person who has obtained the information that you are transsexual in an official capacity, and you are already applying for or have a Gender Recognition Certificate
1. What are your HUMAN RIGHTS?
To date the European Court of Human Rights, and the House of Lords have only addressed the following Articles of the Convention in relation to Trans people
- Article 8: the right to respect for your private and family life, your home and correspondence
- Article 12: the right marry and found a family
However PFC believes there is scope for further intervention in the areas of some of the other Convention Articles; for example
- Article 3: the right not to be subject to [...] inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Article 6: the right to a fair and public hearing
- Article 9: the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- Article 10: the right to freedom of expression
- Article 14: the right of everyone to enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.
If a person or an organisation Contravenes, Ignores or Abuses your human rights AND the action is done by a PUBLIC AUTHORITY e.g. a local authority, government department, public service such as policing, education or health service.
Such abuse would usually contravene a right under the European Convention on Human Rights, as embodied in UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998, which ensures that every person has the right to Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity and their Autonomy.
2. What is Unlawful Discrimination?
Unlawful discrimination is Unequal treatment in Employment, or when accessing Goods, services, facilities or Housing
____________________________________________________
Help yourself: Work out whether what has happened has been either unlawful discrimination or a breach of your Human Rights.
Write a short diary of events.
This really helps us to work out whether you might have a claim. Without such a diary it is almost impossible to help, as our legal advisors are part time and many of the hours they put in on your behalf will be provided on a voluntary basis - so try and make our life a little easier. Include in your diary;
- Dates
- Times
- Details of People involved
- Details of People who were witnesses
- What actually happened including
- the words said
- the actions done
- Any response you made at the time or later
Also, please provide details of:
- who, if anyone, you have tried to address the matter with already including:
- how they responded
- Include a basic outline of correspondence to date. We will ask for copies later if we require them, so please do not throw anything away
Indicate if a meeting or disciplinary has been arranged, or court papers have been filed already.
Do NOT forget to provide details of what actions you have taken to date to resolve these matters, or to mediate (lessen) your loss.