The Government Equalities Office have published its 8th report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (pdf), in April 2018.
The report covers the period of 2011-2017 and outlines the Government’s approach to advancing gender equality and eliminating discrimination.
The report finds:
- UK Government has delivered the Committee’s recommendation to require large organisations to publish their gender pay gap data
- UK Government is developing a strategy for female offenders to improve outcomes for women in the community and custody, which will be set out in due course
- UK Government is clear that discriminatory dress codes are unlawful, outdated and sexist, and cannot be tolerated in the workplace. Employers must meet their legal obligations towards their employees, and the Government will support and challenge them to do so
- In 2015, Welsh Government launched a Call for Evidence on increasing the representation of women and other under-represented groups on Public Sector Boards
- In Scotland, the Pregnancy and Parenthood in Young People Strategy (PPYP) published in 2016, specifically mentions the importance of supporting positive relationships, high quality sexual health education, as well as the need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in relation to young people
- The Northern Ireland Executive published in March 2016 a seven-year strategy Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland. The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes FGM illegal.
