Helga Law Journal

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Helga Law Journal - 01.01.2021, Qupperneq 185

Helga Law Journal - 01.01.2021, Qupperneq 185
Helga Law Journal Vol. 1, 2021 190 International Legal Research Group 191 of speech and take reasonably practicable steps (including the “initiation of disciplinary measures”) to ensure compliance with the code.’369 In addition to these duties, there are applicable human rights relevant to promoting freedom of speech and the right to protest within and outside university campuses. Article 10 and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’) sets out the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of assembly and association. The ECHR is incorporated into domestic law via the Human Rights Act 1998 (‘HRA 1998’) and section 6 of the HRA 1998 prohibits public authorities from acting in a way ‘which is incompatible with a Convention right.’370 It can therefore be argued that, where a university ‘is performing functions of a public nature,’371 then it must adhere to the rights and freedoms contained within the ECHR. Furthermore, it is important to stress that the right to free speech ‘is not absolute and can be limited by law’372 although ‘any such limitations must be proportionate.’373 Alongside the obligation ‘to secure free speech within the law,’374 institutions are ‘subject to a range of other sometimes competing duties.’375 Evidence supports this notion as the Equality Act 2010 (‘EA 2010’) ‘prohibits unlawful discrimination’376 in relation to specific ‘protected characteristics.’377 The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.378 Moreover, section 149 of the EA 2010 establishes a public-sector equality duty (‘PSED’) on institutions ‘undertaking public functions, which harmonises the equality duties across the protected characteristics.’379 Further, the PSED obligates universities to ‘have due regard to the need to - (a) “eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation;” (b) “advance equality of opportunity;” and (c) “foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.”’380 Consequently, it can be argued that equality law can impede freedom of speech ‘by making certain speech and conduct unlawful.’381 Therefore, institutions must ‘balance their obligation to secure free speech with the duty to promote good relations between different groups with protected characteristics.’382 369 ibid. 370 Human Rights Act 1998, s 6. 371 (n 3). 372 (n 2). 373 ibid. 374 (n 21). 375 (n 3). 376 Equality Act 2010, pt 2, ch 1. 377 ibid. 378 ibid. 379 (n 2). 380 (n 32) s 149. 381 (n 3). 382 ibid. Moreover, under section 26(1) of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, higher education bodies are obliged to ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’383 when exercising their functions - otherwise known as the Prevent duty. However, the provision also requires those bodies to have ‘particular regard’384 to the obligation to secure free speech. Consequently, institutions must ensure they ‘balance their legal duties to ensure free speech with their duty to protect students from being drawn into terrorism.’385 8.3 Scale of the Problem It is significant to note that the Government ‘has repeatedly expressed concerns about the impact of student led activities such as “no platforming” and “safe space” policies’386 on freedom of speech and the right to protest in universities. For instance, the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Sam Gyimah MP, has recently called on higher education institutions to ‘join forces with the government to eradicate the “institutional hostility” to unfashionable views that have emerged in some student societies.’387 Moreover, recent press accounts have ‘given prominence to claims that “no platforming” and “safe space” policies’388 are limiting freedom of speech and the right to protest at universities. Evidence supports this as outlets have reported concerns that ‘more than nine in 10 UK universities are restrictive of free speech,’389 reinforcing the perception that the ‘current generation of students are unwilling to hear views which are different to their own.’390 However, complaints that ‘students have created a free speech crisis’391 on university campuses have been ‘exaggerated’392 according to a report by the JCHR. The report concluded that despite ‘real free speech issues,’393 media accounts of ‘wholesale censorship of debate in universities’394 are evidently ‘out of kilter with reality.’395 Despite this, the report also highlighted the existence of ‘real problems which act as disincentives for students to put on challenging 383 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, s 26(1). 384 ibid. 385 (n 3). 386 ibid. 387 Sam Gyimah Hosts Free Speech Summit' (GOV.UK, 2018) <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sam-gyimah-hosts-free-speech-summit> accessed 1 June 2018. 388 (n 3). 389 Rachael Pells, 'These Are The Least Free Universities In Britain, Apparently' (The Independent, 2018) <https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/nine-10-uk-universities-free-speech-restrict- rankings-joseph-rowntree-cardiff-ediburgh-newcastle-a7577381.html> accessed 1 June 2018. 390 (n 3). 391 ibid. 392 (n 3). 393 ibid. 394 ibid. 395 ibid.
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