Weronika Galka
@wgalka.bsky.social
Legal Fellow @justicehq.bsky.social, Associate Editor @justsecurity.org, ex-@StJohnsOx, @spc_oxford & @LeidenLaw. UK-based. All views my own, pronouns she/her.
With my continental hat on - massive, massive moment for the EU. Hopefully will lead to meaningful progress on LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, which the domestic political forces have long alternatively vilified and/or sidelined.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
EU court rules entire bloc must respect same-sex marriages in rebuke to Poland
Couple who married in Germany had their right to a ‘normal family life’ impeded, court of justice finds
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
With my continental hat on - massive, massive moment for the EU. Hopefully will lead to meaningful progress on LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, which the domestic political forces have long alternatively vilified and/or sidelined.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Weronika Galka
No wonder Armando Iannucci stopped writing The Thick of It…
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
No wonder Armando Iannucci stopped writing The Thick of It…
The HL Constitution Committee today published the findings of its rule of law inquiry. As one of the co-authors of JUSTICE's submission to inquiry, I'm very happy to see the report picks up on our framing of the link between electoral legitimacy to govern and the rule of law (at para 62). (cont)
publications.parliament.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The HL Constitution Committee today published the findings of its rule of law inquiry. As one of the co-authors of JUSTICE's submission to inquiry, I'm very happy to see the report picks up on our framing of the link between electoral legitimacy to govern and the rule of law (at para 62). (cont)
Reposted by Weronika Galka
‘None of this is being done in secret – the judgments are public – but the changes have barely registered. Judges, whether serving or retired, tend not to speak out. Barristers know on which side their bread is buttered.’
Conor Gearty on the Human Rights Act: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Conor Gearty on the Human Rights Act: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Conor Gearty · Unwelcome Remnant: Erasing the Human Rights Act
The Supreme Court is quietly editing the Human Rights Act out of existence. In cases where human rights cannot be...
www.lrb.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
‘None of this is being done in secret – the judgments are public – but the changes have barely registered. Judges, whether serving or retired, tend not to speak out. Barristers know on which side their bread is buttered.’
Conor Gearty on the Human Rights Act: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Conor Gearty on the Human Rights Act: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Very saddened to have heard of Prof Conor Gearty’s passing. His work on human rights and national security issues is one of the main reasons why I developed an interest in the area - always sharp, always thought-provoking. In person, he was unfailingly witty and kind. He will be missed.
September 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Very saddened to have heard of Prof Conor Gearty’s passing. His work on human rights and national security issues is one of the main reasons why I developed an interest in the area - always sharp, always thought-provoking. In person, he was unfailingly witty and kind. He will be missed.
Reposted by Weronika Galka
Much of the furore around the use of Article 8 ECHR in immigration cases is manufactured, as @alicedonald.bsky.social and co-authors highlight in this new, must-read report. The problem has been supercharged since Leveson LJ identified it a decade ago:
www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
September 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Much of the furore around the use of Article 8 ECHR in immigration cases is manufactured, as @alicedonald.bsky.social and co-authors highlight in this new, must-read report. The problem has been supercharged since Leveson LJ identified it a decade ago:
www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Weronika Galka
Letter of the day (in the Times)
August 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Letter of the day (in the Times)
Reposted by Weronika Galka
The reliance by the #IDF on a rudimentary statistical model to conduct its proportionality analysis raises serious questions regarding their compliance with international humanitarian law.
Israeli human rights lawyer Alon Sapir on the shortcomings of the model and its legal implications:
Israeli human rights lawyer Alon Sapir on the shortcomings of the model and its legal implications:
The Legality of Statistical Proportionality
Israel's practice of statistical proportionality should be considered to violate the legal duty to take feasible precautions in attacks.
www.justsecurity.org
July 31, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The reliance by the #IDF on a rudimentary statistical model to conduct its proportionality analysis raises serious questions regarding their compliance with international humanitarian law.
Israeli human rights lawyer Alon Sapir on the shortcomings of the model and its legal implications:
Israeli human rights lawyer Alon Sapir on the shortcomings of the model and its legal implications:
(1/2) The judgment in Ammori v SSHD is out: PA given permission to challenge proscription order in JR proceedings.
Some interesting comments on the availability of JR in “collateral attack” scenarios - Chamberlain J suggests that “strong interest” in allowing legality of a challenged order to be
Some interesting comments on the availability of JR in “collateral attack” scenarios - Chamberlain J suggests that “strong interest” in allowing legality of a challenged order to be
July 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
(1/2) The judgment in Ammori v SSHD is out: PA given permission to challenge proscription order in JR proceedings.
Some interesting comments on the availability of JR in “collateral attack” scenarios - Chamberlain J suggests that “strong interest” in allowing legality of a challenged order to be
Some interesting comments on the availability of JR in “collateral attack” scenarios - Chamberlain J suggests that “strong interest” in allowing legality of a challenged order to be
Reposted by Weronika Galka
The Supreme Court's decision is now out: supremecourt.uk/uploads/uksc...
Lord Sales and Lady Rose give the lead judgment and find no breach of the ECHR. Lord Leggatt dissents in relation to the outcome of the Shvidler appeal.
Lord Sales and Lady Rose give the lead judgment and find no breach of the ECHR. Lord Leggatt dissents in relation to the outcome of the Shvidler appeal.
July 29, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The Supreme Court's decision is now out: supremecourt.uk/uploads/uksc...
Lord Sales and Lady Rose give the lead judgment and find no breach of the ECHR. Lord Leggatt dissents in relation to the outcome of the Shvidler appeal.
Lord Sales and Lady Rose give the lead judgment and find no breach of the ECHR. Lord Leggatt dissents in relation to the outcome of the Shvidler appeal.
Really good points here, esp. on political constitutionalism/open justice interactions.
Courts’ justification for deferring on nat sec questions is that such Qs should be answered at the ballot box - during the 2024 election, the electorate was functionally deprived of an opportunity to do so.
Courts’ justification for deferring on nat sec questions is that such Qs should be answered at the ballot box - during the 2024 election, the electorate was functionally deprived of an opportunity to do so.
Paolo Sandro: Parliamentary democracy under the veil of secrecy: the Afghan leak super-injunction case as a bonfire of constitutional principles
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/07/23/p...
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/07/23/p...
Paolo Sandro: Parliamentary democracy under the veil of secrecy: the Afghan leak super-injunction case as a bonfire of constitutional principles
Introduction On Tuesday last week it emerged that a mind-boggling data breach by the UK government – and the momentous policy decisions taken in its wake – had been kept a secret from all but a han…
ukconstitutionallaw.org
July 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Really good points here, esp. on political constitutionalism/open justice interactions.
Courts’ justification for deferring on nat sec questions is that such Qs should be answered at the ballot box - during the 2024 election, the electorate was functionally deprived of an opportunity to do so.
Courts’ justification for deferring on nat sec questions is that such Qs should be answered at the ballot box - during the 2024 election, the electorate was functionally deprived of an opportunity to do so.
Reposted by Weronika Galka
European Court of Human Rights judgment on whether UK dealt with Russian interference in UK politics - states have an obligation to take some action to address foreign interference but have a margin of discretion; UK had taken sufficient measures in Court's view - hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press?i=...
HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights
The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...
hudoc.echr.coe.int
July 22, 2025 at 9:14 AM
European Court of Human Rights judgment on whether UK dealt with Russian interference in UK politics - states have an obligation to take some action to address foreign interference but have a margin of discretion; UK had taken sufficient measures in Court's view - hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press?i=...
The ECtHR judgment in the Ukraine and Netherlands v Russia case has been handed down - and it’s 1600+ paras long! Russia found to have breached Arts. 2, 3, 4(2), 5, 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14, as well as Arts. 1 & 2 of Protocol 1 in respect of its actions in Ukraine.
hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22lang...
hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22lang...
HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights
The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22languageisocode%22:[%22ENG%22],%22itemid%22:[%22001-222889%22],%22display%22:[2]}
July 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The ECtHR judgment in the Ukraine and Netherlands v Russia case has been handed down - and it’s 1600+ paras long! Russia found to have breached Arts. 2, 3, 4(2), 5, 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14, as well as Arts. 1 & 2 of Protocol 1 in respect of its actions in Ukraine.
hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22lang...
hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22lang...
Reposted by Weronika Galka
A remarkable judgment, in which the Lady Chief Justice finds that MI5 gave false evidence to three courts. I'm surprised this hasn't had more media attention - it seems quite serious to me.
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
July 3, 2025 at 6:01 AM
A remarkable judgment, in which the Lady Chief Justice finds that MI5 gave false evidence to three courts. I'm surprised this hasn't had more media attention - it seems quite serious to me.
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Weronika Galka
This week JUSTICE's @stephneedles.bsky.social, @tyronesteele.bsky.social & @wgalka.bsky.social are at the World Justice Forum, discussing how to build resilience for the rule of law.
Grateful to have met with @lucyrigby.bsky.social, the Solicitor General, to discuss JUSTICE's work & these issues.
Grateful to have met with @lucyrigby.bsky.social, the Solicitor General, to discuss JUSTICE's work & these issues.
June 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM
This week JUSTICE's @stephneedles.bsky.social, @tyronesteele.bsky.social & @wgalka.bsky.social are at the World Justice Forum, discussing how to build resilience for the rule of law.
Grateful to have met with @lucyrigby.bsky.social, the Solicitor General, to discuss JUSTICE's work & these issues.
Grateful to have met with @lucyrigby.bsky.social, the Solicitor General, to discuss JUSTICE's work & these issues.
Attending the World Justice Forum in Warsaw on behalf of @justicehq.bsky.social this week - exciting!
June 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Attending the World Justice Forum in Warsaw on behalf of @justicehq.bsky.social this week - exciting!
Reposted by Weronika Galka
‘What begins as a state of exception often augurs a new normality. Coercive powers ceded to the state are rarely handed back, and powers exercised against those at the margins of society invariably permeate more widely.’
Rayan Fakhoury on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ma...
Rayan Fakhoury on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ma...
Rayan Fakhoury | Not Conducive to the Public Good
It would be a mistake to see the attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil for his political views in relation to Palestine as an...
www.lrb.co.uk
March 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
‘What begins as a state of exception often augurs a new normality. Coercive powers ceded to the state are rarely handed back, and powers exercised against those at the margins of society invariably permeate more widely.’
Rayan Fakhoury on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ma...
Rayan Fakhoury on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ma...
Reposted by Weronika Galka
Breaking news: U.S. sides with Russia to vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow for the Ukraine war.
Washington’s dramatic shift on the conflict marks a major break with its European allies and coincides with the Trump administration’s bid to repair relations with the Kremlin.
Washington’s dramatic shift on the conflict marks a major break with its European allies and coincides with the Trump administration’s bid to repair relations with the Kremlin.
U.S. votes against U.N. resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine war
Washington’s shift on the Ukraine war marks a major break with European allies and comes as the Trump administration aims to repair relations with Russia.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Breaking news: U.S. sides with Russia to vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow for the Ukraine war.
Washington’s dramatic shift on the conflict marks a major break with its European allies and coincides with the Trump administration’s bid to repair relations with the Kremlin.
Washington’s dramatic shift on the conflict marks a major break with its European allies and coincides with the Trump administration’s bid to repair relations with the Kremlin.
Reposted by Weronika Galka
The four part webinar series "International Human Rights Litigation: New Frontiers and Challenges" will be launching on 18 March 2025.
This series has been organised by Professor Philip Leach and Professor Dr. Başak Çalı.
Registration and further details: ow.ly/Q66V50V040h
This series has been organised by Professor Philip Leach and Professor Dr. Başak Çalı.
Registration and further details: ow.ly/Q66V50V040h
February 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The four part webinar series "International Human Rights Litigation: New Frontiers and Challenges" will be launching on 18 March 2025.
This series has been organised by Professor Philip Leach and Professor Dr. Başak Çalı.
Registration and further details: ow.ly/Q66V50V040h
This series has been organised by Professor Philip Leach and Professor Dr. Başak Çalı.
Registration and further details: ow.ly/Q66V50V040h
Reposted by Weronika Galka
Reposted by Weronika Galka
Very worth-while @ejiltalk.bsky.social entry on "Erga omnes nature of human rights obligations in respect of climate change". I agree with Slovenia that aspects of the customary human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment have an erga omnes character www.ejiltalk.org/erga-omnes-n...
Erga omnes nature of human rights obligations in respect of climate change: A preliminary survey of the positions in the ICJ Climate Change advisory proceedings
Amongst the many legal issues arising from the ICJ advisory proceedings in Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, the erga omnes nature of the obligations involved has a particular sig…
www.ejiltalk.org
January 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Very worth-while @ejiltalk.bsky.social entry on "Erga omnes nature of human rights obligations in respect of climate change". I agree with Slovenia that aspects of the customary human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment have an erga omnes character www.ejiltalk.org/erga-omnes-n...
Flagging a resource for anyone interested in a play-by-play roundup of key security developments around the world & in the US - written by yours truly!
Latests details about Gaza #Ceasefire in @justsecurity.org's roundup.
- Netanyahu's explanation of new delay
- extraordinary coop between Biden-Trump team
- Palestinian Authority calls for being sole governing power post-war
- US citizens on hostage release list
www.justsecurity.org/106474/early...
- Netanyahu's explanation of new delay
- extraordinary coop between Biden-Trump team
- Palestinian Authority calls for being sole governing power post-war
- US citizens on hostage release list
www.justsecurity.org/106474/early...
Early Edition: January 16, 2025
A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours.
www.justsecurity.org
January 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Flagging a resource for anyone interested in a play-by-play roundup of key security developments around the world & in the US - written by yours truly!
Reposted by Weronika Galka
The NI High Court (Humphreys J) has just granted a mandatory order compelling a public inquiry in a Troubles-related atrocity. From a public law perspective, this is extremely rare. But to all the detractors of proper investigations into our dark past, do take a moment to read this intro:
![Judgment in Brown [2024] NIKB 109 (https://www.judiciaryni.uk/judicial-decisions/2024-nikb-109)
Intro:
"On 12 May 1997, Sean Brown, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club, was locking the gates to the training ground when he ambushed by loyalist paramilitaries. He was abducted, beaten, and shot six times in the head. His body was found next to his burning car the following morning in Randalstown."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bd4hjk56meownjkypm2xhk5b/bafkreiavnupp5i4irrnv75sx7xnqaqrghcm4r3whldsxxkr7plyd4v4qru@jpeg)
December 17, 2024 at 11:54 AM
The NI High Court (Humphreys J) has just granted a mandatory order compelling a public inquiry in a Troubles-related atrocity. From a public law perspective, this is extremely rare. But to all the detractors of proper investigations into our dark past, do take a moment to read this intro:
a new Hart paper! in 2024!
wake up babe Hart's *new* paper just dropped academic.oup.com/ajj/advance-...
December 4, 2024 at 10:46 PM
a new Hart paper! in 2024!
Reposted by Weronika Galka
Interesting! Tucked away in the government's "Make Work Pay" policy is the extension of both the Public Sector Equality Duty and Freedom of Information requirements to private sector organisations exercising public functions / delivering public contracts.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Next Steps to Make Work Pay (web accessible version)
www.gov.uk
December 3, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Interesting! Tucked away in the government's "Make Work Pay" policy is the extension of both the Public Sector Equality Duty and Freedom of Information requirements to private sector organisations exercising public functions / delivering public contracts.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...