Police acted unlawfully over Everard vigil, court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Metropolitan Police unlawfully failed to consider whether the right to protest provided a “reasonable excuse” under coronavirus restrictions to organise a vigil for murder victim Sarah Everard, the High Court ruled today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gender equality: More flexible working, less unconscious bias training – Legal Futures

Posted March 10th, 2022 in equality, legal profession, news, reports, women by sally

‘The legal profession is “making progress” towards more equitable gender representation at a senior level, but there is plenty of scope for improvement, new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 10th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Justice system in England and Wales ‘risks causing fresh trauma to girls’ – The Guardian

‘The vast majority of vulnerable young women and girls in the criminal justice system in England and Wales have previously suffered abuse and violence and are in danger of being retraumatised by the experience, charities say.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equal pay litigation in retail – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in employment tribunals, equal pay, equality, news, women by sally

‘It was back in the 1970s when equal pay legislation was introduced, and it is 12 years since the regulations were rebranded within the Equality Act 2010. So how far have we come in the quest for equal pay? If you are a female store-based supermarket worker, not far, it would seem.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th February 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Call to understand impact of menopause on family clients and lawyers – Legal Futures

‘Family law specialists need a better understanding of the impact of the menopause on clients – and female lawyers too – according to the solicitor launching a project to highlight the issue.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Suicide by domestic violence: call to count the hidden toll of women’s lives – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of suicides a year could be linked to abuse at home. Experts want to collect better data to bring about real change.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Koci Selamaj pleads guilty to murder of Sabina Nessa – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2022 in domestic violence, guilty pleas, murder, news, sexual offences, women by sally

‘A garage worker from Eastbourne has pleaded guilty to the “sadistic” murder of the schoolteacher Sabina Nessa in London last September.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers to reject making misogyny a hate crime in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Ministers will reject making misogyny a hate crime in England and Wales and urge MPs to get behind controversial legislation that has been criticised for curbing the right to protest as the government seeks to push through major changes to the criminal justice system.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Boohoo ad banned by regulator for objectifying women – BBC News

Posted February 16th, 2022 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, women by sally

‘An T-shirt advert for fashion retailer Boohoo has been banned after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received a complaint the images objectified and sexualised women.’

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BBC News, 16th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Making Misogyny A Hate Crime Is Long Overdue – Each Other

Posted February 14th, 2022 in equality, hate crime, human rights, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Misogyny – the hatred of, aversion to, or prejudice against women – is becoming ever more common within our society, yet little is being done to tackle it effectively.’

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Each Other, 11th February 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Woman takes legal action after Met officer who called her ‘hot’ keeps job – The Guardian

Posted February 7th, 2022 in abuse of position of trust, news, police, professional conduct, women by sally

‘A woman is taking legal action against the Metropolitan police after a detective who told her she was “amazingly hot” while investigating her attack kept his job.’

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The Guardian, 6th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why are pregnant women in prison? – Coventry University

Posted January 31st, 2022 in criminal justice, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, prisons, women by sally

‘The aim of this study is to find out why pregnant women spend time in prison, on remand, on recall from licence conditions and on sentence. Research shows that women very rarely commit violent or serious crime, and very few women present any kind of danger to the public. Research also identifies that pregnant women are especially vulnerable and in need of extra care – so this raises critical questions about the incarceration of pregnant women. ‘

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Coventry University, November 2021

Source: www.coventry.ac.uk

Diversity at the Bar improved again in 2021 but women and people from ethnic minorities are still underrepresented as QCs, says BSB report – Bar Standards Board

Posted January 31st, 2022 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, statistics, women by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its annual report on Diversity at the Bar. The report shows that the profession became increasingly diverse in 2021 and that a greater proportion of barristers disclosed their demographic data.’

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Bar Standards Board, 28th January 2022

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Women’s groups seek end to UK courts’ powers to jail people for own protection – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2022 in criminal justice, equality, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, news, racism, women by sally

‘A coalition of women’s rights organisations has called on the UK government to abolish a law that gives courts the power to send people to prison for their own protection, as part of a 10-point plan to tackle inequalities in the criminal justice system.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of pupil barristers rebounds after Covid-related slump -Legal Futures

Posted January 28th, 2022 in barristers, coronavirus, diversity, news, pupillage, statistics, women by sally

‘The number of pupil barristers has rebounded after the pandemic sent it crashing, while women increasingly dominate the junior end of the Bar, new figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 28th January 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Reforms to protect disabled and LGBT+ victims, criminalise extremist misogynist ‘incel’ hate material, and safeguard free speech – Family Law

‘The Law Commission has announced recommendations to reform hate crime legislation to ensure that disabled and LGBT+ victims receive the same protections as victims with other protected characteristics (race and religion). If enacted, the reforms would ensure all five characteristics are protected equally by the law.’

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Family Law, 27th January 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Activist deceived into relationship with Met officer wins £229,000 compensation – The Guardian

‘An environmental activist who was deceived into a two-year intimate relationship by an undercover police officer has been awarded £229,000 in compensation after winning a landmark legal case.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met apologises to woman for ‘sexist, derogatory’ language in strip-search – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police have apologised and paid compensation to an academic for “sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language” used by officers about her when she was strip-searched.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hymen repair surgery and virginity testing to be banned in UK – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2022 in cosmetic surgery, government departments, news, women by sally

‘The government is planning on banning a cosmetic surgery called hymenoplasty across the UK.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court to hear claims Sarah Everard vigil ban breached human rights – The Guardian

‘Women’s rights activists are at the high court to argue that the police’s decision to ban a vigil for Sarah Everard in London was a breach of their human rights.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com