On 6th November 2012, James Harrison, Mary-Ann Stephenson and Ann Stewart organised an expert workshop to examine existing approaches to analysing and challenging the public spending cuts using human rights and equality law. The workshop included leading academics, legal practitioners, civil society activists and trade union representatives. ]

This week we lauch the report of that workshop. The report highlights various key findings of existing approaches that will be useful for those interested in work in this field. It also identifies a number of recommendations for future action to promote future analysis and challenge; The creation of web-based resources; the production of further guidance and research; the formation of a network of actors and further workshops and training events. The report is available here.

On 6 November, the Centre for Human Rights in Practice brought together a select group of experts - lawyers, civil society activists, trade unions and academics from across the UK - to discuss human rights and equality approaches to the public spending cuts.

Since the coalition Government introduced its programme of public sector austerity in 2010 equalities and human rights legislation and standards have been a key tool for civil society groups, unions, lawyers and academics to analyse and challenge the public sector spending cuts. With the austerity programme now looking set to continue for the next decade, this is an important time to reflect on our experience and plan for the future.

The workshop gave rise to a range of ideas for future action and a report will be produced and publicised on the website which includes ideas for next steps.

Since 2008 the Centre has provided support and methodological guidance to the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CICC) and the Canadian Parliament's Standing Committee on International Trade with regard to proposals for a HRIA of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

In June 2012, Dr. Harrison was asked to give evidence to the Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada in relation to the first year's human rights report. His written evidence is available here.

Dr Harrison commented: "It is a shame that this first report does not reflect the hard work that has been undertaken by so many people to create a rigorous human rights reporting process. As academics, it is our job to push policy-makers when their efforts do fall short, in the hope that there will be improvement in the future."

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