Video with Dr Mary Ann Stephenson (sorry, only one I could find was twatter and I'm not posting that)

Official statement: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/high-court-judgment-summary-good-law-project-v-equality-and-human-rights-commission

# Text of statement from EHRC website:

On 13 February 2026, the High Court handed down judgment in Good Law Project and others v Equality and Human Rights Commission, dismissing all grounds of challenge to the interim update we published in April 2025.

## What the case was about
We published an interim update to help organisations or individuals who have obligations or responsibilities under the Equality Act understand the main findings of the Supreme Court's judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. 

The Good Law Project and three individual claimants challenged this interim update, arguing that it was wrong in law and that we had breached our statutory duties.

## What the court found
The High Court rejected all grounds of challenge. The court found that:

* the information in the interim update was lawful
* we fulfilled our duties under sections 3, 8 and 9 of the Equality Act 2006
* the legislation under consideration did not breach the claimants’ rights under the European Convention on Human Rights

The High Court granted permission for the three individual claimants to bring the claim, but refused Good Law Project permission on the basis it lacked standing to bring the claim.

## What the judgment did not decide
The challenge was to our interim update, which the High Court held to be lawful. The court was not asked to consider our draft code of practice for services, public functions and associations and made no findings in respect of it. 

## What this means for employers and service providers
The Equality Act 2010 protects everyone from discrimination, including people with the protected characteristics of sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. We are committed to upholding those protections.

Employers and service providers must follow the law and must have regard to the dignity and rights of all people. The law requires that any single or separate-sex provision must be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. Those with duties under the Equality Act should seek independent specialist legal advice where necessary and should not wait for the new code of practice to be published before taking steps to comply.

We submitted our updated draft code of practice for services to the Minister for Women and Equalities in September 2025. The approval of the code remains a matter for the Minister, and we will continue to engage with her in relation to this.



Statement from EHRC / Dr Mary Ann Stephenson re outcome of GLP High Court case