Michael Rubenstein

Michael Rubenstein was made a patron of Humanists UK for his contribution to advancing human rights, equality, and justice.

Writer and adviser on employment and discrimination law

'Humanism affirms the dignity of each of us: women, men, black, white, gay, straight, disabled, able-bodied, old and young. It is an approach for those who prefer to think for themselves rather than follow age-old dogma.'

Michael Rubenstein has acted as a consultant on discrimination and employment law to numerous international and national organisations including the United Nations, European Commission, ILO, World Bank and OECD. He drafted the European Commission’s influential Code of Practice on measures to combat sexual harassment at work.

He has edited Industrial Relations Law Reports since its inception in 1972, and written for Equal Opportunities Review since it was started in 1985. In October 2007, his company acquired EOR and he became its publisher. He is a former chairman, and now honorary Vice President, of the Industrial Law Society, a trustee and management board member of the Equal Rights Trust, an honorary Master of the Bench at Middle Temple, and a member of the advisory council of Public Concern at Work.

Michael writes: “The struggle against arbitrary discrimination has been a key part of my professional and personal life. It has become increasingly clear that equal rights and orthodox religion are not compatible. Those who perform mental gymnastics in the name of diversity to attempt to reconcile the two are deluding themselves. Humanism affirms the dignity of each of us: women, men, black, white, gay, straight, disabled, able-bodied, old and young. It is an approach for those who prefer to think for themselves rather than follow age-old dogma.”

For more details of his career, see www.michaelrubenstein.co.uk.