Helen
@helstinki.bsky.social
It'd be fair to say I've an interest in human rights. Also I shook hands with an astronaut once. She/her.
Reposted by Helen
"The ECHR was created in the wake of World War 2. Those creating it knew the dangers of extreme ideology better than anyone...To claim it is “outdated” is to ignore the reasons why it was created in the first place, the protections it provides."
Starmer is ignoring why the ECHR was created.
Starmer is ignoring why the ECHR was created.
Today is #InternationalHumanRightsDay, and also the day when UK and EU leaders discuss weaken the rights of people fleeing war and persecution.
If the European Convention on Human Rights is to be reformed, it must be to strengthen it, not undermine it.
Read our statement for #Humanrightsday here 👇
If the European Convention on Human Rights is to be reformed, it must be to strengthen it, not undermine it.
Read our statement for #Humanrightsday here 👇
December 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
"The ECHR was created in the wake of World War 2. Those creating it knew the dangers of extreme ideology better than anyone...To claim it is “outdated” is to ignore the reasons why it was created in the first place, the protections it provides."
Starmer is ignoring why the ECHR was created.
Starmer is ignoring why the ECHR was created.
Reposted by Helen
Truly shocking from a party in government that previously introduced the Human Rights Act. Then it was “bringing rights home“ Now it is apparently about sending them away.
We will all pay the price for this folly.
We will all pay the price for this folly.
December 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Truly shocking from a party in government that previously introduced the Human Rights Act. Then it was “bringing rights home“ Now it is apparently about sending them away.
We will all pay the price for this folly.
We will all pay the price for this folly.
Reposted by Helen
Human rights were built for hard times, not rewrites when it suits the Government.
Pushing to water down the European Convention on Human Rights on International Human Rights Day is a moral retreat, not a solution.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Pushing to water down the European Convention on Human Rights on International Human Rights Day is a moral retreat, not a solution.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Starmer is lobbying Europe to join him in watering down the ECHR. This illiberalism will harm us all | Steve Valdez-Symonds
The prime minister and his counterpart in Denmark want a concerted effort to weaken human rights across Europe. This isn’t pragmatism – it’s cruelty, says Steve Valdez-Symonds, refugee and migrant rig...
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Human rights were built for hard times, not rewrites when it suits the Government.
Pushing to water down the European Convention on Human Rights on International Human Rights Day is a moral retreat, not a solution.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Pushing to water down the European Convention on Human Rights on International Human Rights Day is a moral retreat, not a solution.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Helen
On #HumanRights Day, remembering this @atd4thworld.bsky.social campaign for the indivisibility of rights in the U.K. and beyond. @justfairuk.bsky.social @amnestyuk.bsky.social @koldocasla.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
On #HumanRights Day, remembering this @atd4thworld.bsky.social campaign for the indivisibility of rights in the U.K. and beyond. @justfairuk.bsky.social @amnestyuk.bsky.social @koldocasla.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen
Northern Ireland continues show off just how broken UK counter-terrorism law has become...
Judge Kerr said he accepted that this was not a terrorist case but that the pipe bombs had been left to "cause fear and distress and in order to achieve a sectarian aim of stopping the GAA using public pitches".
Pipe bombs not terrorism, holding signs in support of Palestine Action however, is.
Pipe bombs not terrorism, holding signs in support of Palestine Action however, is.
A man who left pipe bombs at a Co Down sports ground in an attempt to intimidate a newly formed GAA club into leaving, has been given a three year sentence.
December 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Northern Ireland continues show off just how broken UK counter-terrorism law has become...
Reposted by Helen
Education is a human right!
And not just for school leavers, and not just once: for everyone, right through their life.
December 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Education is a human right!
"It relies on the assumption that there are two queues, two parallel services staffed by two entirely different sets of people. This, of course, is not true, and patients are not naïve to the reality that paying to go private only serves to reorder the queue with the poorest at the back."
“…one of the older people present recounted the disgust and anger she felt when, after weeks of trying in vain to access a GP appointment, she paid a private company for a next day consultation only to walk into the consulting room and find her own GP sitting in front of her.”
As we get into the worst period of the year for the public health system, I wrote an article for VIEW magazine highlighting that private healthcare is not going to rescue us - it's making the problem worse.
viewdigital.org/private-heal...
viewdigital.org/private-heal...
December 10, 2025 at 9:25 AM
"It relies on the assumption that there are two queues, two parallel services staffed by two entirely different sets of people. This, of course, is not true, and patients are not naïve to the reality that paying to go private only serves to reorder the queue with the poorest at the back."
Reposted by Helen
On #humanrightsday this small arpillera by Aurora Ortiz
December 10, 2025 at 9:06 AM
On #humanrightsday this small arpillera by Aurora Ortiz
Reposted by Helen
It’s Human Rights Day 2025!
This year’s theme is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials,” so we’ve put together a day-in-the-life to show how human rights allow us to go about our daily routines without fear or restriction.
⬇️
This year’s theme is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials,” so we’ve put together a day-in-the-life to show how human rights allow us to go about our daily routines without fear or restriction.
⬇️
December 10, 2025 at 8:26 AM
It’s Human Rights Day 2025!
This year’s theme is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials,” so we’ve put together a day-in-the-life to show how human rights allow us to go about our daily routines without fear or restriction.
⬇️
This year’s theme is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials,” so we’ve put together a day-in-the-life to show how human rights allow us to go about our daily routines without fear or restriction.
⬇️
Reposted by Helen
Our Colleague @lukedgraham.bsky.social spoke to British Vogue on 'How Can We Actually Tackle Clothing Poverty In The UK?’ www.vogue.co.uk/article/how-... @uomsoss.bsky.social
How Can We Actually Tackle Clothing Poverty In The UK?
At least 5.5 million adults are estimated to be in clothing poverty in the UK. Vogue looks how we can tackle the issue, as part of its Fashion is for Everyone campaign.
www.vogue.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Our Colleague @lukedgraham.bsky.social spoke to British Vogue on 'How Can We Actually Tackle Clothing Poverty In The UK?’ www.vogue.co.uk/article/how-... @uomsoss.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen
💼 The Autumn Budget aimed for a “fairer Britain” but does it meet our human rights obligations?
Wins like removing the two-child limit are outweighed by missed opportunities on housing & benefits. Growth-focused policy risks deepening inequality, we need rights first
justfair.org.uk/a-fairer-bri...
Wins like removing the two-child limit are outweighed by missed opportunities on housing & benefits. Growth-focused policy risks deepening inequality, we need rights first
justfair.org.uk/a-fairer-bri...
A fairer Britain? What the Autumn Budget means for our rights | Just Fair
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said that her Autumn Budget was one based on ‘the right choices for a fairer, stronger, and more secure Britain.’ It is a Budget which she says, ‘will bring down inf...
justfair.org.uk
December 9, 2025 at 3:08 PM
💼 The Autumn Budget aimed for a “fairer Britain” but does it meet our human rights obligations?
Wins like removing the two-child limit are outweighed by missed opportunities on housing & benefits. Growth-focused policy risks deepening inequality, we need rights first
justfair.org.uk/a-fairer-bri...
Wins like removing the two-child limit are outweighed by missed opportunities on housing & benefits. Growth-focused policy risks deepening inequality, we need rights first
justfair.org.uk/a-fairer-bri...
Reposted by Helen
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
December 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
Reposted by Helen
You’d never know this was what was decided as part of that tribunal ruling…
December 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
You’d never know this was what was decided as part of that tribunal ruling…
Reposted by Helen
The Irish Health Minister denounces antitrans nonsense as a vile British import...
December 5, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The Irish Health Minister denounces antitrans nonsense as a vile British import...
Reposted by Helen
Tired: police procedurals
Wired: cat procedurals, a series entirely focused on the drama and politics of being a cat
Wired: cat procedurals, a series entirely focused on the drama and politics of being a cat
December 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Tired: police procedurals
Wired: cat procedurals, a series entirely focused on the drama and politics of being a cat
Wired: cat procedurals, a series entirely focused on the drama and politics of being a cat
Reposted by Helen
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Note how these awful people are getting exactly the exclusions of children that they demanded and *that still isn’t enough for them*: they demand everyone be delighted about it and kiss their arses for being brilliant.
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Reposted by Helen
Sign up to this upcoming The Body Politic event, 'Human Rights are Indivisible.'
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ buff.ly/OZXQkSC
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ buff.ly/OZXQkSC
December 4, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Sign up to this upcoming The Body Politic event, 'Human Rights are Indivisible.'
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ buff.ly/OZXQkSC
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ buff.ly/OZXQkSC
Reposted by Helen
It is great to hear @sianberry.bsky.social MP calling for the enactment of the socioeconomic duty. The UK Government have said they will, but they are now dragging their feet.
It's time to unlock this vital tool for tackling inequality at a local level.
It's time to unlock this vital tool for tackling inequality at a local level.
December 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It is great to hear @sianberry.bsky.social MP calling for the enactment of the socioeconomic duty. The UK Government have said they will, but they are now dragging their feet.
It's time to unlock this vital tool for tackling inequality at a local level.
It's time to unlock this vital tool for tackling inequality at a local level.
Reposted by Helen
We're watching the wholesale burning of every scrap of dignity afforded to trans people in the UK, their rights, their medical services, their employment, their place within society, their bodily functions.
It is a disgrace, and a disgusting stain on the government and media of this country.
It is a disgrace, and a disgusting stain on the government and media of this country.
December 3, 2025 at 11:54 AM
We're watching the wholesale burning of every scrap of dignity afforded to trans people in the UK, their rights, their medical services, their employment, their place within society, their bodily functions.
It is a disgrace, and a disgusting stain on the government and media of this country.
It is a disgrace, and a disgusting stain on the government and media of this country.
Reposted by Helen
"A legal right to a quality home in a healthy environment may not sound like a lot to ask in the sixth richest country in the world, but it is a million miles from the lived reality of...our constituents."
Great to hear Neil Duncan-Jordan MP calling for economic, social and cultural rights in law.
Great to hear Neil Duncan-Jordan MP calling for economic, social and cultural rights in law.
December 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"A legal right to a quality home in a healthy environment may not sound like a lot to ask in the sixth richest country in the world, but it is a million miles from the lived reality of...our constituents."
Great to hear Neil Duncan-Jordan MP calling for economic, social and cultural rights in law.
Great to hear Neil Duncan-Jordan MP calling for economic, social and cultural rights in law.
Reposted by Helen
Nobody should be alone at Christmas ❤️
December 1, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Nobody should be alone at Christmas ❤️
Reposted by Helen
Remember those lost.
Fight the stigma.
Educate.
Fight the stigma.
Educate.
December 1, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Remember those lost.
Fight the stigma.
Educate.
Fight the stigma.
Educate.
Reposted by Helen
Sign up to this upcoming The Body Politic event, 'Human Rights are Indivisible.'
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Sign up to this upcoming The Body Politic event, 'Human Rights are Indivisible.'
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Join us to reflect on the history of alliance-work in these campaigns and how we could re-mobilise this for today’s struggles.
📅 7pm, 10th December
📍 Happy Out Cafe
🎟️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Helen
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Helen
🦠 The Covid-19 Inquiry’s call to commence the socio-economic duty is a vital step toward protecting those most at risk and progressing health equity.
We have long championed this, co-leading the 1ForEquality campaign. It’s time decision-making in the UK finally reflects the dignity we all deserve.
We have long championed this, co-leading the 1ForEquality campaign. It’s time decision-making in the UK finally reflects the dignity we all deserve.
The Chair of the UK Covid Inquiry, Baroness Hallett has made a statement on her findings and recommendations.
View the statement in full by visiting our YouTube channel 📺👇
youtube.com/watch?v=a6xY...
View the statement in full by visiting our YouTube channel 📺👇
youtube.com/watch?v=a6xY...
November 27, 2025 at 8:32 PM
🦠 The Covid-19 Inquiry’s call to commence the socio-economic duty is a vital step toward protecting those most at risk and progressing health equity.
We have long championed this, co-leading the 1ForEquality campaign. It’s time decision-making in the UK finally reflects the dignity we all deserve.
We have long championed this, co-leading the 1ForEquality campaign. It’s time decision-making in the UK finally reflects the dignity we all deserve.