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A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland is due to come into effect on 1 April 2025, under proposed legislation published today. The move takes forward the recommendation to ban single use vapes from a consultation on ‘Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vapi

Belgium has become the first country in Europe to criminalise ecocide on a national and international level. A new penal code backed by Belgium's federal parliament yesterday provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years for individuals guilty of ecocide, and fines of up to €1.6 million for corpo

New laws on regulating the Scottish legal sector can be strengthened further to better protect the public, the Law Society of Scotland has said. A majority of MSPs voted today to agree to the principles of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) following the bill's stage one debate in the Scott

Westminster's Joint Committee on Human Rights has announced that it will visit Rwanda to inform its work into the human rights implications of the UK’s asylum strategy.

Transgender High Court judge Master Victoria McCloud has resigned as she fears that she risks making the judiciary political if she remains on the bench, The Times reports. Master McCloud, 54, told the senior judiciary she was quitting because “I am now political every time I choose where to p

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Detained Saudi activist 'cut off' from family contact

The UK has said it will withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in a move welcomed by climate campaigners who say the treaty is an obstacle to climate action. Signed in 1994, the ECT was designed to promote international investment in the energy sector, historically providing protections for i

A priest has been arrested on suspicion of trafficking viagra and similar substances. The alleged pill-peddling priest from the western Spanish town of Don Benito was arrested along with his romantic partner, a man, on Monday following a months-long investigation, El País reports.

A bill enshrining in law a right to food has been lodged by Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant. The Right to Food (Scotland) Bill would also empower the Scottish Food Commission to oversee and report on the operation of the law.

Ahead of the Stage 1 debate on the Regulation of Legal Services Bill in the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have urged the government to follow through on their promise and remove unchecked ministerial powers currently included in the legislation. As presently drafted, the Regula

Watermans is to represent former Clackmannanshire sub-postmaster Rab Thomson as he pursues compensation from the Post Office following his wrongful conviction for embezzling money. Mr Thomson, 64, was found guilty in 2006 after an audit showed an apparent shortfall of nearly £6,000 at his Camb

The Scottish Young Lawyers' Association and the SSC Society are hosting 'Spotlight on Deprivation of Liberty in Scotland: an assessment of human rights and UNCRPD Compliance' with speaker, Sarah Prentice. Ms Prentice is a senior solicitor with the Scottish Social Services Council, an independent saf

Amnesty International has called for a fund to remedy the harms faced by communities affected by climate change to be established after higher-income states missed a deadline to nominate their representatives to its board. Following the hottest year ever recorded globally the need for action is "acu

As part of Victims’ Awareness Week, minister for victims Siobhian Brown attended Edinburgh Sheriff Court for a familiarisation visit. She was accompanied by representatives from Victim Support Scotland (VSS) and a victim who has received support through the charity. The court familiarisation v

TLT has boosted its national future energy practice in Glasgow, welcoming back real estate expert Nick Shenken as partner. Mr Shenken has specialised in the clean energy sector for the last 20 years, advising a range of clients across the public and private sector in the whole of the UK.