UN key questions on women’s rights in the UK
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has published a report with a whole series of questions for government in the UK to respond to.
The report asks government to give information about measures being taken to avoid retrogression on women’s rights after Brexit including loss of funding for specialist services. It also asks about measures to bring CESDAW into domestic law.
Other issues highlighted include:
- the lack of available and affordable childcare in Scotland
- splitting universal credit payments to protect women against domestic violence
- promotion of gender equality in a range of careers including academia, the judiciary and police
- more information and support for women in Scotland wishing to exit prostitution
- better services and protection against sexual violence for disabled women and the gypsy traveller community
- progress on support for women and girls who are victims of female genital mutilation (FGM).
The report also asks about mental health services for women in prison and measures to combat gender based harassment, particularly against lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender women or girls. The UN would also like to see rural women having better access to health, education and employment, transport and ownership of land to promote decision-making.
Read the UN report here.
The Civil Society Brexit Project has produced information about women’s rights after Brexit -see here.
Image credit: Stinging Eyes, Flickr