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Conference resources

Everyday Human Rights Conference
8 November 2023

On 8 November 2023 we hosted a major conference in Westminster, ‘Everyday human rights – the route to a better UK.

Five years on from the then UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston’s visit to the UK, our conference was attended by over 150 delegates, who heard from speakers on the state of poverty, inequality, and human rights in the UK, including the negative consequences of ignoring our everyday rights and the major role these rights can play in creating a fairer and more just society.

Resources from this conference, including a summary report, speaker presentations, powerpoints, and videos from the day can be found below.

Conference report

Check out our brief ‘Summary Report’ and accompanying appendix below.  The appendix contains:

  • The agenda
  • Speaker biographies
  • Presentations
  • Question and answer sessions
  • Related media coverage
Summary Report
Report Appendix

Speaker powerpoints

Check out powerpoints from some of our speakers below:

Rory Weal
Helen Flynn
Kate Ewing

Blogs

Read the blogs about our conference:

Five years on from damning UN poverty report, UK policies continue to inflict misery
Poverty and inequality are soaring in the UK – everyday rights are part of the solution

Videos

Check out the recordings of the presentations given by our speakers below.

Panel 1: Everyday rights in the UK today

Speaker 1: Philip Alston, Professor of Law, New York University and former UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

Speaker 2: Rory Weal, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager, the Trussell Trust.

Speaker 3: Helen Flynn, Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns, Just Fair

Speaker 4: Patricia Leatham, direct experience testimony                          

Panel 2: Potential solutions

Speaker 1: Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights                                                                               

Speaker 2: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region), Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees, Scottish Government

Speaker 3: Kate Ewing, Researcher, Just Fair

Closing Remarks

Speaker 1: Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool, West Derby

Speaker 2: Jamie Burton KC, Chair, Just Fair               

Speaker 3: Jess McQuail, Director, Just Fair 

Media Coverage

Check out some media coverage of the conference below:

The Guardian
The Big Issue
The Independent

Participant feedback

Here’s what participants said:

  • “Excellent in-depth presentations about the application of rights in
    reality and the importance of continuing to pursue direct
    incorporation”
  • “I have not so clearly heard poverty, food and homelessness framed as human rights issues before, this will be very useful in campaigning work.”
  • “The coming together of like-minded people, in similar areas of work, brought a sense of hope”