The Women and Equalities Committee report on Pregnancy and maternity discrimination calls for UK women to have protections similar to those in Germany after a ‘shocking’ increase in workplace pregnancy discrimination over the past decade.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights launched an inquiry into the UK’s record on children’s rights. The inquiry follows the UK assessment of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and will consider both the recommendations made by the Committee, as well as considering any implications for children’s rights of the Children and Social Work Bill. The deadline for submitting was 7 October 2016.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has launched an inquiry into the human rights implication of Brexit. The committee is focusing on three particular issues: privacy and family life; international trade; and other human rights protected by EU law. The deadline for submissions passed on 10 October 2016.
In April 2016 the Women and Equalities Select Committee launched the first parliamentary inquiry into the scale and impact of sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools. The Committee now invites stakeholders to assess the strength of evidence submitted by the Government to the Committee’s inquiry. The deadline for comments was midday on 5 July.
The government is to undertake a full public consultation on the issue of caste and the Equality Act 2010. A key aim of the consultation will be to obtain the views of the public on whether additional measures are needed to ensure victims of caste discrimination have appropriate legal protection and effective remedies under the 2010 Equality Act.
UNISON has commissioned NatCen to explore the impact of public spending reductions on LBG&T people. NatCen is inviting people who have used and/or provided LGB&T services to contribute to the research (before 20 September 2016).
The Welsh Government’s consultation on a National Strategy on Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence closed on 10 October 2016.
On 18 August 2016, the Government Equalities Office published a consultation on ‘Mandatory Gender Pay Gap Reporting – Public Sector Employers’. The consultation ran from 18 August to 30 September.
The Scottish Government is consulting on proposals for a Child Poverty Bill. The consultation opened on 8 August and closed on 30 September 2016.
In August 2016, the Labour Party’s Shadow Women and Equalities team launched a race equality consultation seeking views on tackling racism and discrimination in modern Britain. There is currently no closing date for the consultation.
