Gender discrimination at work has recently been raised in the global public consciousness. From the #MeToo movement instigating Harvey Weinstein’s conviction earlier this year, to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlighting how women are disproportionately exposed to the virus due to their places of work. Within the legal sector, the Law Society of England and Wales have produced a report on ‘The Need for Gender Equality in the Legal Profession’. A4ID believes that through gender discrimination litigation, lawyers can use their skills to positively impact broader development issues, in particular Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality, as well as SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth....

These four cases from varied jurisdictions highlight a trend of leveraging legal instruments other than traditional employment courts to redress gender discrimination at work. They highlight how different types of law can offer vital protection of rights, while also shedding light on some areas of employment legislation that may need the legal community’s further examination and potential review...