We launched the Sex Discrimination Law Review to defend legislative protections for women in the face of Brexit, and also chart a course for the future by setting a progressive agenda for women's rights in the UK.

The resulting report, which is the first of its kind, concludes that violence against women and girls is ‘endemic’ in the UK, and that our legal system is failing women and needs fundamental reform. 

Read our Sex Discrimination Law Review Executive Summary and Final Report here.

If you believe in creating a more progressive agenda for Britain, take a stand with us. Join us today.

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What is the Sex Discrimination Law Review? 

We brought together an incredible panel of experts to look at the detail of the law for sex equality in the UK. Together, we have examined gaps in current provisions, and how to build legislation fit for the 21st century.

The Review has had a broad remit, including:

• Employment law & discrimination including pregnancy discrimination, sexist dress codes, equal pay including pension provision
• The application of the definition of indirect discrimination
• Family friendly rights for parents and carers including possible consolidation
• Harassment including on the internet and social media
• Hate crime and its limits
• Multiple discrimination, particularly intersectional discrimination and whether Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 in its current form is sufficient
• Public sector equality duty and specific duties
• The balance of individual rights vs the responsibility of the organisation to promote equality
• Access to justice
• Sex Equality legislation in Northern Ireland and the differences between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

Listen to Sam Smethers and Karon Monaghan QC speak about Fawcett's Sex Discrimination Law Review at the University of Law here.

The Review has been kindly funded by Fawcett Society members and supporters. We are particularly grateful for donations from Adrian Webb who has donated in memory of his late wife, Clare, and from Stefan Cross QC and Action4Equality. Without their support this Review would not be possible.

The Final report publication and launch is kindly supported by: Action4Equality Scotland, Cloisters, Farore Law and Slater & Gordon.

Our panel members are:

• Dame Laura Cox DBE, Chair
• Gay Moon, Lead and co-ordinator
  
• Sam Smethers, Fawcett Society
• Anna Beale, Lawyer, Cloisters
• Rachel Crasnow QC, Lawyer, Cloisters
• Matthew Creagh, Policy Officer, TUC
• Sarah Jackson OBE, Chief Executive, Working Families
• Rachel Krys, Co-Director, EVAW
• Sarah Lowe, Senior Lawyer, EHRC
• Aileen McColgan, Professor of Human Rights Law, Kings College London
• Karon Monaghan QC, Lawyer, Matrix Law
• Colm O’Cinneide, Professor of Human Rights Law, University College London
• Catherine Rayner, Lawyer, 7 Bedford Row and Chair of the Discrimination Law Association
• Muriel Robison, Professor of Law, University of Glasgow
• Daphne Romney QC, Lawyer, Cloisters
• Liz Shannon, Parliamentary and Policy Advisor, Equality and Diversity Forum
• Louise Whitfield, Lawyer, Deighton Pierce Glynn Law
• Katie Wood, Senior Legal Officer, Maternity Action

How can you get involved?

Donate to our Review

We urgently need your support to continue campaigning about the effectiveness of current laws, and safeguard protections for women, who could be at the bottom of the list of priorities when Britain leaves the European Union.

Help us make sure that gender equality doesn’t lag even further behind other countries in Europe. Donate to our Sex Discrimination Law Review.