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EHRC urged to investigate ministers for 'equality failures' in Covid response

Exclusive: TUC, Amnesty and others say decisions have worsened impact on women and watchdog should act
The UK’s equality watchdog is facing demands to investigate claims that ministers have sidelined key gender laws in their response to the Covid pandemic.
In the wake of a damning report from MPs that said the UK risked turning back the clock on gender equality, a coalition of organisations including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Amnesty International, Save the Children and the Fawcett Society have accused the government of taking decisions that are deepening inequalities.
Two dozen signatories, including leading gender equality experts, signed a letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) that argues that the government has failed in its duty to consider the impact of key policies on women and other groups protected under the Equality Act.
The letter states: “This is a time of crisis for women. The coronavirus pandemic is having a significant and disproportionate impact on women’s health, jobs and livelihoods.
“The policy decisions taken by government and other key public bodies in response to coronavirus are worsening the impact of the pandemic and deepening inequalities faced by women. The consequences of these decisions will affect women for years to come.”
The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said women had been overlooked at every stage of the pandemic.
“That’s why we are asking the EHRC to use its legal powers to investigate. We shouldn’t have to do this, but ministers have stubbornly refused to review the impact of their policies on women as the law requires they do,” she said.
“If we don’t act now, women’s equality could be set back by decades and women’s and children’s poverty could soar.”
The organisations highlight specific “failures” such as the fact that self-employed women who have taken maternity leave have received reduced Covid support payments, a decision recently challenged in court and awaiting a judgment.
They also point to the disproportionate financial impact of self-isolation on women, who are less likely to be eligible for statutory sick pay, and the additional caring responsibilities put on women when schools and childcare closed.
“The Equality Act has somehow been swept off the table as privileged fathers in politics
“Women are being forced out of the economy as the government watches on, seemingly nonplussed by the fact that we are going to wake up in 1951.”
Under the public sector equality duty (PSED) of the Equality Act, ministers must show they have considered the impact on equality when making policy, but the letter states that impact assessments were not carried out and there was scant evidence equality was considered.
It says last week’s report from the women and equalities select committee makes it “clear ... the government has failed to meet its obligations under the PSED to protect and promote equality for women at work.”
Clare Wenham, an associate professor of global health at the London School of Economics said: “Despite a wealth of evidence demonstrating the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on women, the UK government has continued to bury its head in the sand. This is not good enough and is failing women across the UK, and will continue to do so unless urgent action is taken.”
A government spokesperson said: “The contribution that women make to the economy is crucial. Which is why we’ve set out an unprecedented offer of support, including help for the sectors they are more likely to be employed in, protection for female led start-ups and new childcare support.
“Every department considers equality impacts in their policy-making, and an equalities assessment of the Coronavirus Act was published last year.”
source: Alexandra Topping
Levant
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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