Conference Programme
Thursday 10 September 2026, 9.00am – 5.30pm
King’s College London, King’s Building, Level 6, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
- 09.00 – 09.30: Arrival and registration
- 09.30 – 10.45: Session 1 – Keynote & Panel – Why Socio-Economic Rights? Why now?
- Why do we need socio-economic rights, and why right now?
- Following an introduction from Adrian Berry KC and a Keynote from Koldo Casla, the panel will discuss the importance of socio-economic rights in everyday life and draw on experiences from Wales & Scotland.
- Introduction and welcome: Adrian Berry KC, Garden Court Chambers
- Keynote speaker: Dr Koldo Casla, UN Special Rapporteur on The Right to Adequate Housing
- Panel discussion:
- Adrian Berry KC (Chair)
- Dr Koldo Casla, UN Special Rapporteur
- Helen Flynn, Head of Programs and Partnerships, Just Fair
- Kirsty McKechnie, Early Warning System Project Manager, Child Poverty Action Group
- 10.45 – 11.00: Break
- 11.00 to 11.50: Session 2 – The Public Sector Equality Duty, Section 1 and Implementation
- The Panel will discuss socio-economic inequalities in the context of the Public Sector Equality Duty and the potential implementation of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 in England.
- Professor Joe Tomlinson (Chair), Dickson Poon School of Law, KCL
- Dr Jed Meers, Senior Lecturer, York Law School
- Vanessa Boon, Senior Policy & Advocacy Leader, Equality Trust
- Ian Browne, Lecturer, UCL Faculty of Laws
- The Panel will discuss socio-economic inequalities in the context of the Public Sector Equality Duty and the potential implementation of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 in England.
- 12.00 – 13.00: Session 3 – Breakouts
- Choose one of two breakout sessions:
- Break out 1: Education rights: Using the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 to advance access to education
- Stephanie Harrison KC (Chair), Garden Court Chambers
- Ollie Persey, Garden Court Chambers
- Dan Rosenberg, Director and Head of Education & Children’s Rights, Gold Jennings
- Curtis James, Co-Founder, Class Divide
- Break out 2: Accommodation rights: Avoiding destitution and discrimination and ensuring the right to dignity in the provision of homelessness assistance, asylum support, and other publicly provided accommodation and shelter.
- Adrian Berry KC (Chair), Garden Court Chambers
- Georgie Rea, Garden Court Chambers
- Jo Underwood, Supervising Solicitor and Lecturer in Law, KCL
- Mark Rogers, Senior Legal Adviser, Asylum Support Appeals Project
- 13.00 – 14.00: Lunch
- 14.00 – 15.00: Session 4 – Using ECHR & HRA to advance & enforce socio-economic rights
- Professor Joe Tomlinson, KCL
- Dr Luke Graham, Senior Lecturer in Public Law and Human Rights, University of Manchester
- Chloe Pugh, Principal Lawyer, Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Desmond Rutledge, Garden Court Chambers
- 15.10 – 16.10 Session 5 – Breakouts
- Break out 1: Environmental rights as social and economic rights: using international law, human rights law and the Equality Act 2010
- Marc Willers KC (Chair), Garden Court Chambers
- Acland Bryant, Garden Court Chambers
- Dr Sonam Gordhan, Lecturer in Environmental Law, KCL
- Lara Ibrahim, Oxford Law Faculty, University of Oxford
- Break out 1: Environmental rights as social and economic rights: using international law, human rights law and the Equality Act 2010
- Break out 2: Social care rights: using social and economic rights for children, persons with disabilities, and those in need for community care
-
- Jennifer Twite (Chair), Garden Court Chambers
- Connor Johnston, Senior Lawyer, Law Commission
- Kari Gerstheimer, CEO and Founder, Access Social Care
- Alex Temple, Garden Court Chambers
-
- 16.10 – 16.30: Break
- 16.30 – 17.30: Session 6 – Closing Panel
- Panellists will discuss the future of socio-economic rights and related legislation, policy, and casework strategies. This session will draw together audience and panellist thoughts on how Section 1 and due regard would work across practice areas and explore how we can work together to achieve change.
- Adrian Berry KC (Chair), Garden Court Chambers
- Sanchita Hosali, CEO, British Institute of Human Rights
- Jess McQuail, Director, Just Fair
- Jen Clark, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, Amnesty International UK
- Panellists will discuss the future of socio-economic rights and related legislation, policy, and casework strategies. This session will draw together audience and panellist thoughts on how Section 1 and due regard would work across practice areas and explore how we can work together to achieve change.
- 17.30-19:30: Drinks Reception in the Anatomy Museum
