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Olympian Sharron Davies is joined by a trio panel of Susan Smith of 'For women Scotland', Kate Harris co-founder of LGB Alliance, and employment and discrimination law barrister Naomi Cunningham.

This live event was co-hosted by WRN Wales and Merched Cymru.

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

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Step behind the scenes for an exclusive look at the work of the Women’s Rights Network (WRN) and hear directly about one of its most significant recent campaigns.

This session offers a unique opportunity to learn about WRN’s extensive Freedom of Information venture, to hold local councils across the nation, to account over their unlawful policies and practices.

Beginning in May 2025, the project was launched in response to the landmark ruling in the For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

Over months of investigation, WRN volunteers gathered evidence from councils across the country, exposing the scale of non-compliance with the law.

This work ultimately culminated in the powerful exposé report “The Waiting Shame”, which brings together the findings of this nationwide inquiry and highlights the consequences of these policies for women.
You will also hear about the other strategies and actions being undertaken by WRN regional groups to force the attention of councils that are failing to uphold the law.
Among these is the widely discussed WRN Leeds Deposition, an initiative that rapidly gained national attention after going viral online.

If you are a woman who would like to get involved in the incredible work of WRN, visit: www.womensrights.network/join-wrn.
Membership is free, and WRN has regional groups across the entire UK, offering opportunities for women to collaborate, organise, and take action locally.

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Useful Link:

WRN Leeds Deposition to council: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkZO9Tswqo0

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

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Heather Binning hosts guest Menno Kuijper, better known to the world as Mr Menno.

Menno describes himself as a 'satirist, songwriter, performer, woo woo buster'.

Menno takes us through his profound personal journey from a young gay man sympathetic to a seemingly innocuous gender movement to his startling realisation that it is unapologetically motivated by homphobia and mysogyny.

A funny, honest, bittersweet account that is both touching and uplifting.

Useful links:

https://www.patreon.com/BadGaySuperGay

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

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Heather Binning is joined by Michael Foran, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Oxford and Tutorial Fellow at Keble College, specialising in public law, equality, and anti-discrimination law.

Drawing on cases including Sandie Peggie and the Good Law Project's latest challenge to EHRC guidance, Michael cuts through the legal complexity to explain — in plain language — what these developments mean and how they are being weighed by legal professionals.

He also offers practical advice for anyone facing discrimination from an employer, or being refused service by event organisers as a gender-critical individual or group.

Michael's first book, Equality Before the Law (Hart, 2023), won the Yorke Prize from Cambridge. His second book, Sex, Gender Identity, and the Law, is forthcoming from Cambridge University Press in 2026.

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Useful Links:

Michael’s Substack on the GLP appeal: https://knowingius.org

Equality Act Schedule 3, Paragraph 26: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/3/paragraph/26/enacted/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-equality-duty-guidance-for-public-authorities/public-sector-equality-duty-guidance-for-public-authorities

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

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This week, Heather Binning is joined by barrister Akua Reindorf KC to discuss the legal and institutional fallout from the Supreme Court’s April 2025 judgment. Akua was closely involved in the developments surrounding the case, both through her work as an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner and through her prominent role as a public legal commentator.

Drawing on that experience, she reflects on the responsibilities of public bodies following a definitive ruling from the UK’s highest court. Akua argues that once the Supreme Court had clarified the law, public authorities and regulators had a clear and immediate duty to implement it promptly and transparently.
Akua explains why, in her view, there is no legal justification for institutions to delay compliance or for the UK government to postpone the long-awaited Statutory Code of Practice, stressing that regulators cannot simply defer difficult decisions or wait for political consensus when the law itself has already been settled.

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Useful Links:

EHRC Codes of Practice: www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/codes-practice/code-practice-services-public-functions-and-associations

Akua’s X account: @akuareindorf

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

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Faika El-Nagashi is the founder and director of the Athena Forum, a European initiative for sex-based rights, democratic values, and political courage.

Political scientist, human rights advocate and former member of parliament in Austria, Faikia has spent over three decades advocating for women's rights within Europe.

Faika explains the convoluted political structure within both the EU and the European Council, and how influential ideological fringe lobbyists and NGOs frustrate the recognition of sex-based rights.

Useful Links:

Athena Forum website: https://athena-forum.eu

Council of Europe: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

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Join Heather Binning in conversation with special guest Kemi Badenoch, Leader of HM Opposition, Leader of the UK Conservative Party and Conservative MP for North West Essex.

After a career in IT and then in the financial sector, she turned her sights to politics, taking her seat in Parliament in 2017. Amongst her many roles in Government and in opposition, she has been Minister for Women and Equalities

Kemi discusses the frustration elected representatives face when agenda driven activists are provided the loudest voice on Select committees that are failing in their duty to scrutinise government policy and performance without prejudice.

WRN members questions are put to Kemi on topical issues such as the concerning impact on our younger generations accessing highly sexualised, degrading material via the internet, Bridget Phillipson's delay in approving the EHRC guidance, women’s rights as a focal electoral issue and the power of women supporting each other, regardless of political leaning.

After a career in IT and then in the financial sector, she turned her sights to politics, taking her seat in Parliament in 2017. Amongst her many roles in Government and in opposition, she has been Minister for Women and Equalities .

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

And if you’d like to join our conversations, go to womensrights.network/join-wrn

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Heather Binning hosted this interview with two British sporting legends, Sharron Davies and Tracy Edwards.

The refusal of so many sports bodies, regulators, unions (and currently the UK government) to recognise the importance of delivering fair sporting opportunities for women and girls, be it recreational or at elite level, inspired Sharron and Tracy to set up the Women’s Sports Union.

A fascinating, inspiring interview filled with anecdotes, infuriating stats but most importantly, hope.

Women’s Sports Union: https://www.womenssportsunion.com

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

And if you’d like to join our conversations, go to womensrights.network/join-wrn