Government urged to fix ‘disastrous state’ of rape prosecutions – The Guardian

‘An alliance of women’s organisations is calling for radical reforms to address the “disastrous state” of rape investigations and prosecutions, including a ministerial lead, a commission on juries and a ban on the use of sexual history evidence.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse victims with ‘trapped capital’ should not be denied legal aid, court rules – The Guardian

‘Victims of domestic abuse should not be denied legal aid because they have assets trapped in a home, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 25th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Report questions equality initiatives that “set women apart” – Legal Futures

Posted November 24th, 2020 in diversity, equality, law firms, news, reports, women by sally

‘Some of the measures used by law firms to tackle a lack of gender diversity in senior roles could be “ineffective or even counter-productive”, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminalise public sexual harassment in UK, charities say – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2020 in charities, children, criminal justice, harassment, news, sexual offences, statistics, women by sally

‘Girls’ rights groups are calling for public sexual harassment to be criminalised in the UK after research suggested more than half of young women and girls were harassed on the street during the summer.’

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The Guardian, 22nd November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Essure: Women in England take legal action against sterilising-device maker – BBC News

Posted November 16th, 2020 in class actions, compensation, damages, health, medical treatment, news, women by sally

‘Lawyers have begun legal action on behalf of 200 UK women against the makers of a sterilisation device, after claims of illness and pain.’

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BBC News, 15th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

“Shocking discrepancies” in Bar gender pay gap analysis – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2020 in barristers, fees, news, remuneration, statistics, women by sally

‘The gender pay gap at the Bar is “alive and well”, the chair of the Bar Council said yesterday, after new figures looking at individual practice areas revealed “shocking discrepancies”.’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Equality watchdog clears BBC of pay discrimination against women – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2020 in BBC, equal pay, equality, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘An investigation by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission has found no unlawful acts of pay discrimination against women by the BBC. But it has recommended “improvements to increase transparency and rebuild trust with women at the organisation”.’

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BBC News, 12th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rough sex excuse in women’s deaths is variation of ‘crime of passion’ – study – The Guardian

‘Men who kill women are increasingly using the “sex game gone wrong” excuse as a contemporary variation on the traditional crime of passion defence, research has found.’

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The Guardian, 10th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK supreme court could be left with only one female justice – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2020 in diversity, equality, gender, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Progress towards gender diversity on the UK’s highest court is in danger of being thrown into reverse, following the announcement that another female justice will retire shortly.’

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The Guardian, 8th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-prisoner challenges MoJ policy after alleged sexual assault by trans woman – The Guardian

‘A prisoner who was allegedly sexually assaulted behind bars by another inmate has challenged the Ministry of Justice over its policy on placing transgender women in women’s prisons.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Be yourselves, Black female QCs advise young barristers – Legal Futures

Posted October 28th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, race discrimination, racism, women by sally

‘Young barristers from ethnic minorities should not be afraid to be who they are – including maintaining their hair in its natural look – as they look to progress, pioneering QCs have advised.’

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Legal Futures, 28th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Female lawyers anxious over disproportionate impact of Covid – Legal Futures

‘Almost a quarter of women in the profession have not seen their incomes return to pre-Covid levels with one in five still on less than their previous working hours, a survey has found.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rape prosecutions and convictions dropped by half early in UK pandemic – The Guardian

‘Prosecutions for crimes against women and girls in England and Wales plummeted in the first three months of the coronavirus pandemic, reflecting a backlog in the court system exacerbated by the UK-wide shutdown and subsequent social distancing measures.’

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The Guardian, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK ‘unique in its light-touch approach’ to gender pay gap – The Guardian

Posted October 14th, 2020 in employment, equality, gender, government departments, news, remuneration, women by sally

‘The UK is “unique in its light-touch approach” in not requiring private employers to produce a plan to tackle gender pay gaps, a report has found.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council: Positive action like ‘preferential briefing’ can aid diversity – Legal Futures

Posted October 7th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pupillage, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Positive action – such as giving female barristers preferential access to briefs after returning to chambers from career breaks – can bring about real change in addressing under-representation at the Bar, the Bar Council has said.’

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Legal Futures, 7th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Female advocates “to lose instructions” with longer court hours – Legal Futures

Posted September 29th, 2020 in barristers, carers, coronavirus, courts, flexible working, news, solicitors, women, working time by sally

‘Criminal advocates unable to accommodate courts’ extended operating hours (EOH) – who are disproportionately women – are likely to miss out instructions even though they can ask for hearings to be held during regular hours instead, research has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 29th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Misogyny ‘should become a hate crime in England and Wales’ – The Guardian

‘Misogyny should be made a hate crime in England and Wales, according to the independent body that recommends legal changes, as part of an overhaul of legislation.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women lose court of appeal challenge against UK pension change – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2020 in age discrimination, appeals, news, pensions, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Increasing the age at which women born in the UK in the 1950s are entitled to receive their state pension to 66 is lawful, the court of appeal has ruled. The unanimous judgment is a major setback for campaigners who have argued that the government’s changes will be a “disaster” for those on lower incomes.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women hit by state pension age rise are ‘sick with anxiety’ ahead of Court of Appeal judgment – The Independent

Posted September 15th, 2020 in age discrimination, appeals, coronavirus, news, pensions, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Women hit by the state pension age rise are “sick with anxiety” as they wait for their Court of Appeal judgment to be handed down on Tuesday.’

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The Independent, 14th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

London bus attack couple join campaign to make misogyny a hate crime – The Guardian

Posted September 10th, 2020 in hate crime, homosexuality, news, reports, threatening behaviour, women by sally

‘A couple who were victims of a violent, homophobic attack on a London bus are calling for misogyny to become a hate crime, as a report reveals that women are three times more likely to experience sexual violence and threats than men.’

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The Guardian, 10th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com