These assessments show what action government has taken to carry out the United Nation’s (UN’s) recommendations, within the scope of our methodology.
They include recommendations from the UN committees associated with the human rights treaties that the UK government has signed and ratified (agreed to follow), which are:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CAT)
Overview of action taken
Gender stereotyping and objectification of women in the media
What we assessed in the recommendation
Do more to address harmful gender stereotypes and encourage changes in attitudes. This should include addressing negative gender stereotypes and the objectification of women in the media. Promote positive and diverse views on gender, including in schools and public campaigns.
ICESCR concluding observations 2025, paragraph 31:
Recalling its general comment No. 16 (2005) on the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights, the Committee recommends that the State Party, along with the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales: (a) Intensify efforts to combat negative gender stereotypes and promote attitudinal change, including by addressing stereotypical imaging and the objectification of women in the media.
CEDAW concluding observations 2019, paragraph 28:
The Committee recommends that the State party continue to engage with the media to eliminate stereotypical imaging and the objectification of women in the media, and take further measures to eliminate negative gender stereotypes and to promote positive and diverse gender portrayals, including in schools and through public campaigns.
The CEDAW recommendation was made in March 2019 and the ICESCR recommendation was made in March 2025.
In June 2019, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) introduced a rule stating that adverts will no longer be allowed to depict harmful gender stereotypes. ASA is the UK’s advertising regulator. It aims to make sure that adverts in the UK media meet the rules set out in the Advertising Codes, which are created by CAP. Both of these organisations are independent of government, so this has not been considered as government action for the purposes of this assessment.
In July 2019, the UK government published a gender equality roadmap. This contained commitments to address stereotyping in the media, including through the creation of a monitoring tool to measure the prevalence of gender stereotyping in advertising. This monitoring tool has not been created.
In October 2023, the Online Safety Act 2023 became law. This act puts a range of duties on social media companies and search services, making them more responsible for users’ safety on their platforms. Certain services are also required to offer tools that can be used to reduce the likelihood of seeing abusive or hateful content, including misogynistic content.
In February 2026, Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, published an update on their investigation into social media platform ‘X’ and the scope of the Online Safety Act. The update clarified that not all chatbots are subject to regulation under the act. It also stated that Ofcom had launched an investigation into whether X had done enough to assess and mitigate the risk of demeaning sexual deepfake images of people, generated by its Grok AI tool, being spread across the platform.
In June 2025, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 became law. Section 138 of the act makes it a criminal offence to create, or request the creation of, intimate images without consent. In April 2026, the Crime and Policing Act became law. This also makes it an offence to install equipment with intention to take intimate images without consent.
In July 2025, the government published updated statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance, which includes a focus on:
- how gender stereotypes cause damage, such as encouraging prejudice
- how to recognise misogyny
- teaching children and young people to challenge harmful ideas they might encounter online
The guidance will come into force in September 2026. The government has also announced that it intends to pilot a training grant for schools in 2026 to support staff to deliver this new curriculum.
In July 2025, Oak National Academy, a non-departmental government body that produces curriculum resources, published new online safety lessons. The lessons help teenagers learn about harmful ideologies and other forms of misogyny they might encounter online.
In December 2025, the government published a cross-government strategy to address violence against women and girls. This included a range of commitments, such as:
- putting safeguards in place to prevent children from accessing misogynistic influences online
- launching awareness-raising and behaviour change campaigns over the next decade
- providing £8 million for an ‘innovation fund’ aimed at identifying new and effective interventions, such as a telephone helpline, to challenge and change harmful behaviours or attitudes in young people making sure that staff in Youth Offending Teams have the skills, training, and resources they need to respond effectively to young people displaying harmful behaviours
Assessment up to date as of June 2026.
Raising awareness about CERD, equality legislation and remedies for racial discrimination
What we assessed in the recommendation
Increase efforts to raise awareness about the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), equality laws and remedies for victims of racial discrimination.
CERD concluding observations 2024, paragraph 14:
The Committee recommends that the State party take all measures, including measures by the devolved governments and by the governments of the overseas territories and the Crown dependencies, where applicable, necessary: (e) To increase efforts aimed at raising awareness among the population about the Convention, equality legislation and the remedies available for victims of racial discrimination.
Since the recommendation was made in September 2024, the UK government has not taken action to raise awareness about the CERD, equality laws or remedies available for victims of racial discrimination.
Assessment up to date as of September 2025.
Acknowledging and raising awareness of the impacts of slavery and colonialism
What we assessed in the recommendation
Work harder to acknowledge past wrongs and raise awareness of the legacies and impacts of colonialism and slavery and their connection to present-day systemic racism. Consult closely with relevant stakeholders, especially people of African descent.
CERD concluding observations 2024, paragraph 58:
The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Redouble its efforts to acknowledge past wrongs and raise awareness of the legacies and impacts of colonialism and trafficking in enslaved people and their connection with present-day manifestations of systemic racism, in close consultation with relevant stakeholders, in particular people of African descent.
Since the recommendation was made in September 2024, the UK government has not taken further action to acknowledge past wrongs and raise awareness of the legacies and impacts of colonialism and slavery and their connection to present-day systemic racism. However, it has carried out a consultation with African stakeholders on the UK’s new Approach to Africa.
In October 2024, a UK government spokesperson said the UK government would not apologise over Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Samoa.
During a Parliamentary debate on historic slavery and reparations in February 2025, the Minister for Development acknowledged that the slave trade was abhorrent, but said the government would work with relevant stakeholders to tackle the pressing political challenges of today and the future, rather than the past.
In June 2025, the UK government published a policy paper summarising the UK’s new Approach to Africa consultation, which ran from November 2024 to May 2025. This consultation gathered views from the UK’s African partners on their relationship with the UK, including with national governments, multilateral institutions, UN agencies, CSOs, academics, businesses and diaspora organisations.
Respondents pointed to the UK’s partnerships with African countries being inevitably influenced by its colonial legacies. A significant minority called for acknowledgment of that history and the need to recognise and engage on it in the spirit of honest partnership. There were some references to reparations, including 2025 being the African Union’s ‘year of reparations’.
Assessment up to date as of September 2025.
Human rights training for law enforcement officials
What we assessed in the recommendation
Offer continuous human rights training to law enforcement. Follow CERD general recommendation No. 13 (1993) on the training of law enforcement officials in the protection of human rights.
CERD concluding observations 2024, paragraph 32:
In the light of its general recommendations No. 31 (2005) on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system and No. 36 (2020) on preventing and combating racial profiling by law enforcement officials, the Committee recommends that the State party: (g) Provide adequate and continuous human rights training to law enforcement officials, in accordance with the Committee’s general recommendation No. 13 (1993) on the training of law enforcement officials in the protection of human rights.
While the UK government is not directly responsible for the day-to-day training of law enforcement officials, it is responsible for setting national standards and providing funding for training to the College of Policing. This is an independent public body responsible for the professional standards of policing in England and Wales.
The CERD recommendation was made in September 2024. Since October 2013, the Core Planning Principles of the College of Policing set out that human rights principles must underpin every area of police work and training from basic probationary training through to senior management courses. The principles refer to European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Article 14, as it is incorporated into UK law. This is about the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of:
- sex
- race
- colour
- language
- religion
- political or other opinion
- national or social origin
- association with a national minority
- property
- birth, or
- other status
However, they do not reference the specific requirements of the CERD or the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (1979) as recommended by CERD general recommendation No. 13 (1993).
Assessment up to date as of September 2025.
Sexual and reproductive rights education
What we assessed in the recommendation
Introduce compulsory age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive rights, including on issues such as gender relations and sexual behaviour.
CEDAW concluding observations 2019, paragraph 42:
The Committee recommends that the State party: (c) Take measures to introduce into school curricula mandatory, age ‑ appropriate education on sexual and reproductive rights, including issues such as gender relations and responsible sexual behaviour, throughout the State party.
On 25 June 2019, after the recommendation was made on 7 June 2019, the UK government introduced statutory guidance that made relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) compulsory in England. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw pupils from the sex education components of this education, but they cannot request withdrawals from the relationships or health education sections. Schools are free to determine how to deliver education in line with this statutory guidance.
Included in these requirements are that pupils learn about the various choices related to pregnancy, information which should be medically, legally and impartially delivered. The guidance requires schools to ensure that children are taught facts and what the law says about sex, sexuality, sexual health, choices and healthy behaviours around sex and relationships and gender identity in age-appropriate and inclusive ways.
Assessment up to date as of December 2024.
Negative stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards disabled people: media campaigns
What we assessed in the recommendation
Use media campaigns to change behaviours that contribute to discrimination, raise public awareness of the prohibition of discrimination, and promote tolerance and respect for diversity. Collaborate with disabled people's organisations to strengthen awareness-raising campaigns that remove negative stereotypes and prejudice towards persons with disabilities, particularly learning disabilities and conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Include media strategies and campaigns, with different target audience groups, based on the human rights model of disability.
CRPD concluding observations 2017, paragraph 23:
The Committee recommends that the State party, in close collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities, strengthen its awareness-raising campaigns aimed at eliminating negative stereotypes and prejudice towards persons with disabilities, particularly persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities and persons with neurological and cognitive conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer ’ s. To that end, the State party should include mass media strategies and campaigns, with different target audience groups, based on the human rights model of disability.
CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 20:
The Committee reiterates its previous recommendations and urges the State party: (c) To conduct media campaigns to change social norms and behaviours that contribute to discrimination, to raise public awareness of the prohibition of discrimination and to promote tolerance and respect for diversity.
Since the CRPD recommendation was made in October 2017, and the CRC recommendation was made in June 2023, the UK government has supported, and in some cases conducted, relevant awareness-raising campaigns.
The UK government continued to provide funding to the Time to Change campaign, until the campaign closed in March 2021. This campaign aimed to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems.
In May 2021, the UK government resumed the It’s everyone’s journey campaign to make public transport more inclusive for disabled people. It was developed by the Department for Transport in partnership with industry, disability groups and disabled people.
In July 2021, the UK government published a National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026. This included commitments to develop and test an initiative to improve public understanding and acceptance of autism, working with autistic people, their families and the voluntary sector
The UK government has partly funded The Alzheimer Society’s Dementia Friends campaign aimed at eliminating negative stereotypes for persons with neurological and cognitive conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
There is no evidence that the UK government has conducted other media campaigns to change social norms and behaviours that contribute to discrimination, raise public awareness of the prohibition of discrimination, and promote tolerance and respect for diversity.
Assessment up to date as of December 2024.
Human and children's rights education
What we assessed in the recommendation
Promote human rights education in schools which includes a focus on the empowerment of girls and CEDAW, and the teaching of children's rights and CRC. Make sure the teaching of children's rights and CRC is included in the training of teachers and education professionals.
CEDAW concluding observations 2019, paragraph 42:
The Committee recommends that the State party: (d) Promote human rights education that includes a focus on the empowerment of girls and the Convention in schools.
CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 47:
Noting with concern inequalities in educational attainment and outcomes for children in disadvantaged situations, the Committee recommends that the State party: (i) Ensure the teaching of children’s rights and the principles of the Convention within the mandatory school curricula in all educational settings and in the training of teachers and education professionals.
Curriculum
Since the CEDAW recommendation was made in March 2019 and the CRC recommendation was made in June 2023, the UK government has continued to require local authority maintained secondary schools in England to teach the national citizenship curriculum. Statutory Guidance on this curriculum states that it aims, among other things, to ensure pupils develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the role of law and the justice system in our society. This includes elements of human rights education, such as teaching of ‘human rights and international law’ and ‘the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding’. The teaching of children’s rights, the CRC or CEDAW are not referenced.
In May 2019, the The Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019 made Relationships Education mandatory in all primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) mandatory in all secondary schools in England. Statutory guidance for schools on the regulations was issued in June 2019. The guidance states that parents have a right to request that their child be excused from sex education. The guidance on RSE includes some focus on the empowerment of girls in so far as it includes teaching tolerance of other people’s beliefs, the understanding that individuals have rights over their own bodies, how stereotypes can be damaging, and the legal rights and responsibilities regarding equality, with reference to protected characteristics.
In July 2024, the UK government launched a consultation on changes to the statutory guidance on reaching RSHE, which aims to provide a curriculum that reflects the issues and diversities of our society, ensuring all children and young people are represented.
Teacher training
There is no evidence that teacher training in England includes teaching of children’s rights of the CRC.
The UK government’s statutory guidance for Initial Teacher Training providers (2024 to 2025) stipulates that they must enable trainees to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to teach the national curriculum within the phase for which they are training, and meet the teacher’s standards.
The teacher’s standards, applicable since 2011, set out that teachers are expected to show tolerance of and respect for the rights of others, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Assessment up to date as of December 2024.
Children's rights public awareness strategy
What we assessed in the recommendation
Introduce a strategy to raise public awareness of children’s rights, making sure to involve children.
CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 14:
Noting with concern the relatively low level of knowledge regarding the Convention among children and adults, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Adopt a national strategy for awareness-raising on children’s rights among the public and promote the active involvement of children in public outreach activities.
Since the recommendation was made in June 2023, the UK government has not adopted a national strategy to raise public awareness of children’s rights.
Assessment up to date as of December 2024.
Page updates
Published:
29 January 2025
Last updated:
27 August 2026