Indefinite detention of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants "should put us to shame", a Labour MP has said.Tulip Siddiq (pictured) told MPs that detaining people indefinitely was a "blight on their human rights of freedom".The MP for Hampstead and Kilburn called on the Government to "act now" and make provision…

Leading judges are being asked to rule that a teenager's "prolonged solitary confinement" in detention amounted to "inhuman and degrading" treatment.Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Lord Justice Moylan and Lord Justice Singh heard on Wednesday that the boy was locked alone in his cell at Feltham Young Offender Institution (pictured)…

A Northern Ireland schoolgirl whose mother is facing prosecution for buying her abortion pills was taken from a classroom by police officers and spoken to about the alleged crime without her parents being present, a court has heard.A barrister for the mother outlined the circumstances of the case as she…

Campaigners pushing for reform of Northern Ireland's abortion and marriage laws have hailed an "historic day" after MPs approved moves to better monitor equal rights compliance.Labour MP Stella Creasy's amendment to emergency legislation linked to the powersharing crisis was approved by 207 votes to 117 - majority 90 - following…

Britain is in danger of becoming a "two-speed society" with some groups excluded from the prosperity and rights enjoyed by others, the country's equality body has warned.At-risk groups are in danger of being forgotten and "trapped in disadvantage", said the Equality and Human Rights Commission.Its study found that progress made…

New opinion polls have found that the majority of people across the UK want to see abortion decriminalised in Northern Ireland. Unlike in the rest of the UK, abortions in Northern Ireland are illegal in all but exceptional medical and mental health circumstances. The opinion polls commissioned by Amnesty International…

Campaigners have urged MPs to put pressure on Westminster to decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland. Abortions are illegal in Northern Ireland in all but exceptional medical and mental health circumstances, leading women to travel elsewhere in the UK for the procedure or to break the law by taking abortion pills.…

A fresh legal challenge against Northern Ireland's restrictive abortion laws has been mounted. Sarah Ewart (pictured) is applying for a judicial review, seeking a declaration of incompatibility with human rights law in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities. Five years ago, Ms Ewart travelled from Northern Ireland for a termination in…

Theresa May has defended her "hostile environment" immigration policies which led to people from the so-called Windrush generation to lose their jobs, welfare benefits and right to remain in the UK. Mrs May (pictured) apologised for the fact that many long-standing UK residents of Caribbean origin had been caught by…

Three Conservative MPs who back abortion reform in Northern Ireland will be in Belfast later to hear experiences of women impacted by the region's restrictive laws. During a day of meetings, Anna Soubry, Huw Merriman and Nicky Morgan will also speak with midwives, doctors, politicians and lawyers challenging the current…

A new Westminster inquiry is to examine whether the Government has a responsibility to reform abortion laws in Northern Ireland. The Women and Equalities Committee will also assess whether the contentious issue should only be one for devolved ministers to determine. Abortions in Northern Ireland are illegal in all but…

A woman accused of obtaining abortion pills for her teenage daughter is in "fear and pain" over her pending prosecution. On Thursday the High Court in Belfast is set to hear a legal challenge to the decision to take action against her. Unlike other parts of the UK, the 1967…