Law and religion round-up – 14th June

Article 9 ECHR

The European Court of Human Rights has published its Guide on Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, updated on 30 April 2020. As paragraph 10 of the Guide points out:

“Freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in Article 9 of the Convention represents one of the foundations of a ‘democratic society’ within the meaning of the Convention. It is, in its religious dimension, one of the most vital elements that go to make up the identity of believers and their conception of life, but it is also a precious asset for atheists, agnostics, sceptics and the unconcerned. The pluralism indissociable from a democratic society, which has been dearly won over the centuries, depends on it. That freedom entails, inter alia, freedom to hold or not to hold religious beliefs and to practise or not to practise a religion.”

Registration of Births in England and Wales

On 8 June, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, SI/2020/577 came into force in England and Wales. The Regulations amend regulation 9(1) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987, SI/1987/2088 to allow for the entry of information in a birth registration entry without the registrar needing to be in the presence of the informant. Continue reading