Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
10th Report – Discrimination, harassment and abuse against Muslim women
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 571
Published 30 January 2026
Recommendations
9
Accepted
Mandate regional mayors to lead awareness and trust-building for anti-Muslim hate reporting services.
Recommendation
Given reforms to the provision of local services, including the proposed abolition of police and crime commissioners, we recommend regional mayors take a lead role in working with community organisations to raise awareness of the reporting service, to build trust …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees Mayors are well placed to work with community organisations to raise awareness and will write to all UK Mayors encouraging them to promote the reporting service.
Government Equalities Office
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15
Accepted
Highlight achievements of Muslim women in key industries to foster role models and encourage employment.
Recommendation
Visible and relatable role models can be a valuable source of inspiration and provide demonstrable evidence that a career choice is accessible yet in many cases such role models are lacking for Muslim women. The Government and major employers should …
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Government Response Summary
The government's Race Equality Unit will host a roundtable with MHCLG and major employers to shine a light on Muslim women inspiring meaningful change in a range of industries, driving up employment and representation.
Government Equalities Office
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19
Accepted
Review support for NHS Muslim staff to ensure protection and effective reporting of abuse.
Recommendation
In light of increases in anti-Muslim hate in society, the NHS should review the support available to its Muslim staff and ensure that staff feel protected and able to report abusive and discriminatory behaviours in the knowledge that the necessary …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that NHS already has policies and procedures to protect staff and that the NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Improvement Plan aims to ensure all staff feel safe to speak up and report abusive or discriminatory behaviours.
Government Equalities Office
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20
Accepted
Ensure refreshed Women's Health Strategy addresses poor outcomes for Muslim women's healthcare.
Recommendation
Tackling disparities in women’s healthcare is a key focus of the Women’s Health Strategy. The Government is due to refresh the strategy in the coming months. The Government should ensure that addressing poor outcomes faced by Muslim women, including in …
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Government Response Summary
The government will include addressing poor outcomes faced by Muslim women in the provision of mental health support and pain relief for women, is included in that work, in the renewed Women's Health Strategy.
Government Equalities Office
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24
Accepted
Utilise Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to raise awareness of abuse against Muslim women.
Recommendation
The Government should use work around the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to raise awareness of the abuse of Muslim women in this country. It should complement an updated hate crime action plan. (Recommendation, Paragraph 103)
Government Response Summary
The government states it is already raising awareness of abuse through the Protecting What Matters plan, awareness-raising campaigns, the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection, increased funding for safe accommodation and new measures to prevent and tackle ‘honour’-based abuse.
Government Equalities Office
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28
Accepted
Review Ofcom's resources and powers to effectively enforce the Online Safety Act.
Recommendation
In response to the increasing problem of online hate, the Government should review whether Ofcom has the resources and powers it needs to enforce the Online Safety Act effectively. (Recommendation, Paragraph 110)
Government Response Summary
The government states Ofcom's spending cap allows it to deliver its duties under the OSA, and that Ofcom has recruited an expert online safety team and has robust enforcement powers including the power to issue financial penalties.
Government Equalities Office
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32
Accepted
Increase government support for grassroots initiatives enabling Muslim women's participation in social activity.
Recommendation
The Government should increase its support for community-led grassroots initiatives aimed at supporting Muslim women and girls to participate in social activity. (Recommendation, Paragraph 118) 54
Government Response Summary
The government says it already supports community-led initiatives through the Common Ground Resilience Fund (CGRF) and other programmes, including the Muslim Sports Foundation and This Girl Can campaign.
Government Equalities Office
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Conclusions (2)
22
Conclusion
Accepted
It is disappointing that the Government has not updated the hate crime action plan, which expired in 2020. The lack of an action plan is a missed opportunity to provide a coherent, cross-departmental strategy on tackling intersectional hate crime. (Conclusion, Paragraph 101)
Government Response Summary
The government says it is currently prioritising the implementation of measures outlined in Protecting What Matters, as well as continuing existing programmes to address hate crime and religious hatred.
25
Conclusion
Accepted
At present people can stir up religious hatred online in the knowledge that their comments are unlikely to be removed and, except in the most extreme cases, are unlikely to face any consequences for their actions. While some individuals have been prosecuted for posting hate speech, the platforms that facilitate …
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Online Safety Act (OSA) introduced measures on in-scope platforms to protect users from illegal content, and that traditional publishers are members of regulatory bodies enforcing codes of conduct.