The 10th December has been internationally recognised as Human Rights Day since 1950, marking the pivotal date on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The theme of Human Rights Day 2025, "Our Everyday Essentials," serves as a powerful call to action. Human rights are frequently taken for granted or viewed as abstract concepts, but they are, in fact, the indispensable essentials we rely on daily. This campaign seeks to bridge the gap between human rights principles and everyday experiences, demonstrating that these rights are positive, essential, and attainable for all.
At 33 Bedford Row, our barristers continue to work at the forefront of international justice, ensuring that these essential rights are protected, whether through representations before the United Nations, advocacy in Parliament, or litigation in the European and domestic courts. Today, we highlight the recent, critical work of our members.
Defining Boundaries: Domestic and European Case Law
Our members' dedication to upholding human rights is demonstrated through their impactful work in the European and Domestic courts. Notably, in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Haydee Dijkstal (Head of International Law) led by Dr S Chelvan (Head of Immigration, Public Law & Civil Liberties) secured a final judgment in M. I v Switzerland on 14 February 2025, which significantly clarified a crucial aspect of protection claims under Article 3 ECHR (prohibition of torture), thereby narrowing the scope for discretion in such sensitive cases.
Domestically, Dr S Chelvan and Simon Ridding were instructed in a landmark decision in February 2025 in the Court of Appeal case SSHD v PG [2025] EWCA Civ. 133, reaffirming key principles in immigration and human rights law that contribute directly to the essential protections afforded to vulnerable individuals within the UK legal system.
Global Advocacy: Securing Justice for the Arbitrarily Detained
Barrister Haydee Dijkstal has been successfully navigating complex international legal frameworks to challenge unlawful detention and forced disappearance - a direct challenge to insecurity and alienation.
In a significant case, Haydee secured a successful decision before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) for a detained Rohingya community leader in Bangladesh. The WGAD found the client's detention to be arbitrary and ruled that he was a victim of enforced disappearance.
This critical finding was widely covered in the media, with outlets like The Diplomat and Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) highlighting the ruling. The decision underscores the fundamental principle that no one should be subjected to detention without legal basis, an essential component of individual freedom.
Upholding Rights of British Nationals Abroad
Haydee Dijkstal and Simon Ridding are actively representing Ahmed Al-Doush, a British citizen currently detained in Saudi Arabia on charges related to free expression, through a multi-faceted campaign to secure his release. Their efforts over the past year have included significant Parliamentary Advocacy, notably presenting evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs in June 2025. Furthermore, they initiated UN Engagement by raising his case before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, where a decision is awaited. Their work has also generated crucial Public Awareness, with the case recently being highlighted by Amnesty International and former client Anoosheh Ashoori, powerfully underscoring the urgent need for the government to take decisive action. In a related matter in November, Haydee also provided evidence to the same APPG on behalf of other British nationals wrongfully detained abroad, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are held in Iran - a case that received coverage from the BBC.
Legislative Scrutiny: The Legacy of the Troubles
On a day that marks the creation of a landmark international document, we also look to the work of our members engaging with the complexities of legislative reform concerning past conflicts. Austen Morgan has been focused on the new legislation regarding the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968-1998).
Dr Morgan notes that the government's focus currently lies with the newly introduced Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. The new Labour bill appears primarily aimed at "re-set[ting] relations with the Republic of Ireland" and integrating Dublin into Northern Ireland's criminal justice system. As Dr Morgan highlights, fundamental human rights questions remain at the forefront of this debate, being intensively scrutinised by select committees in Westminster.
The work highlighted above demonstrates the chambers’ proactive role in shaping the essential, everyday reality of human rights - from challenging arbitrary detention on the global stage to defining legislative boundaries in the UK and Europe.