March 2025

• Our detailed response to the Bertin Review, in which we drew on the experiences shared by Women with direct experience of the industry, and we continue to push for them to be consulted in any further reviews. We welcome the Review and its recommendations and are reassured to see the Government recognise the urgent need to tackle the harms of pornography. However, we are clear there is no such thing as ‘safe’ pornography and more needs to be done to protect and support women and girls who are harmed by pornography. Read our detailed response here.

June 2025

• We spoke to women across the UK with disabilities or caring responsibilities about the Government’s welfare reform proposals as outlined in the Department for Work and Pensions’ Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Read our statement here and the full response here. Submitted 30th June 2025.

• Our response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Code of practice for services, public functions and associations: consultation 2025. The consultation aimed to gather feedback on changes the EHRC made following the UK Supreme Court ruling on 16 April 2025 in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers (For Women Scotland), which found that the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex. Read our full response here. Submitted 30th June 2025.

• Critical protections for women are too often unconsidered and failing in their purpose. We responded to the Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO)’s Equality Law Call for Evidence to raise the alarm that the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is failing women. The OEO is interested in whether non-public bodies exercising public functions are meeting their obligations under the PSED. However, this narrow focus misses a more fundamental opportunity. Read our statement here and our full response here. Submitted 30th June 2025.

November 2025

• FiLiA's letters to both the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Welsh Government in response to the EHRC’s formal enforcement action concerning serious failures in the Welsh Government’s compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). The EHRC identified significant shortcomings in how the Welsh Government conducts Equality Impact Assessments and engages with those affected by its decisions. In our letter to the EHRC, we welcome this intervention and offer our support and collaboration to help strengthen the implementation of the PSED in Wales, ensuring women’s voices, experiences, and rights are central to policy making. In our accompanying letter to the Welsh Government, we urge officials to reform their approach to Equality Impact Assessments and widen stakeholder engagement to include grassroots women’s organisations. Drawing on our research, strong community base and practical toolkits, we provide concrete recommendations to help restore trust and bring policy making in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

FiLiA's campaigns and policy team, which includes the FiLiA Women’s Assembly, is working to support women to get their voices heard by local and national policy makers and decision makers. Here we will share consultations, calls for evidence and other opportunities which may be of particular interest to women, and where it will be important for policy makers to hear from women on their experiences and their perspectives:

• NHS England are calling for insights into Breast Surgery services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ends: 31st December 2025.
  GIRFT Breast Surgery Revisit Questionnaire Devolved Nations – NHS England

• The Women’s and Equalities Committee has launched an inquiry to examine whether women donating and freezing their eggs get sufficient information about the process and health impacts. A call for evidence to support this inquiry is now live. Ends: 9th January 2026. Egg donation and freezing – Committees – UK Parliament

• The Women’s and Equalities Committee are calling for evidence to help them understand why Black people experience disproportionate levels of homelessness. This inquiry will also consider what measures the Government should include in its cross-departmental homelessness and rough sleeping strategy. Ends: 12th January 2026. Black homelessness – Committees – UK Parliament

• The UK government is introducing legislation which will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for at least a six-month period after they return, except in specific circumstances. The consultation is seeking views on these enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers. Ends: 15th January 2026. Make Work Pay: enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers – GOV.UK

• The Employment Rights Bill introduced a new day-one right to unpaid bereavement leave for employees who experience the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Views are now sought to ensure the new entitlement is shaped to the needs of employees and employers. Ends: 15th January 2026. Make Work Pay: leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss – GOV.UK

• This consultation aims to gather views from the Adult Social Care workforce on how to establish the best way to collectively agree a fair pay agreement. Ends: 16th January 2026. Fair pay agreement process in adult social care – GOV.UK

• The UK Parliament is carrying out research into the issues that affect women’s mental health during pregnancy and in the first year following birth. Experiences and expert evidence are sought to inform this, particularly around the risk factors and effective interventions.
  Ends: 18th January 2026. Approved work: Pregnancy and postpartum mental health – POST

• Views of students, recent graduates, educators, trade unions and professional bodies are sought to help shape a revised bursary scheme for NHS Wales. Ends: 23rd January 2026. Considering future options for the NHS Wales bursary scheme – GOV.WALES

• The Justice and Home Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into settlement, citizenship, and integration. This will include the processes to gain British citizenship and the complexities involved in applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain. The Inquiry will also look at measures to aid integration and social cohesion. Ends: 23rd January 2026. Settlement, Citizenship and Integration – Committees – UK Parliament

• The Welsh Government are revising the professional standards for teaching and are calling for comments and ideas that will help them redesign the Welsh education system so that it meets the needs of all learners Ends: 26th January 2026. Revised professional standards for assisting teaching, teaching and leadership – GOV.WALES

• A consultation has been opened by the Department of Health and Social Care to test the guidance associated with the Down Syndrome Act 2022. Views from parents, families and health professionals are particularly welcomed. Ends: 28th January 2026. Down Syndrome Act 2022 draft statutory guidance – GOV.UK

• The Scottish Parliament are calling for views on their draft Climate Change Plan.  This plan will seek to put in place policies and proposals that will help Scotland play its part in reducing global emissions. Ends: 29th January 2026. Draft Climate Change Plan – Scottish Government consultations

• The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have launched a consultation on the future of council tax in Scotland. They are calling for views from individuals, households, communities and organisations across Scotland on potential approaches to reform. Ends: 30th January 2026. The Future of Council Tax in Scotland – Scottish Government consultations

• The UK Government are preparing for the 2031 Census. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are calling for views on data and what matters to you. This is an opportunity to help shape the next Census and ensure that data accurately reflects the needs of communities.
  Ends: 4th February 2026. Census 2031 Topic Consultation – GOV.UK

• Alongside the ONS’s consultation on topics for Census 2031, views are sought on a new ethnicity harmonised standard that will be recommended for use when developing questions. Ends: 4th February 2026. Government Statistical Service Harmonisation: Assessing user needs for additional response options for the new ethnicity harmonisation standard – GOV.UK

• The United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSRVAW) is calling for views and evidence about the violence women and girls experience specifically related to their role as mothers. This will include the experiences of mothers who also face multiple and intersecting forms of vulnerabilities. Ends: 6th February 2026. Call for input to the report of the UNSRVAW to the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Violence against mothers

• New guidance is being drafted by the Home Office on the use of facial recognition technology. This will examine public attitudes toward the use of this technology and include considerations of privacy and safeguarding. A consultation has been launched to gather views and evidence to inform this work. Ends: 12th February 2026. Legal framework for using facial recognition in law enforcement – GOV.UK

• The Department of Culture, Media and Sport have launched a consultation on their proposed Equality Scheme relating to Northern Ireland. Ends: 20th February 2026. Equality Scheme for Department for Culture, Media and Sport – GOV.UK