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Resource library: Promoting legal and policy changes

Promoting legal and policy changes icon

Welcome to our comprehensive resource collection dedicated to promoting legal and policy changes.

Here, you'll find a diverse range of resources aimed at supporting the design and implementation of inclusive legal and policy reforms that promote the rights and safety of all individuals. Laws and policies have a wide-ranging impact on people’s individual and collective lives, including their quality of life, ability to exercise their rights, and their access to services. Unfortunately, legal frameworks can mirror and perpetuate patterns of discrimination that exist in everyday life, limiting the people and groups who already experience discrimination. For instance, LGBT+ individuals and couples, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual violence, widows or divorced women, or girls who leave school early due to pregnancy, are likely to encounter social and economic exclusion due to restrictive policies or legislation based on their background or identity.  

Efforts to challenge discriminatory policies and legislation, whether undertaken individually or collectively, can be fraught with risks, especially for reformers already experiencing discrimination. This includes women human rights defenders and LGBT+ organisations, among others. 

Displaying 22 - 42 of 50 resources
Screenshot showing first page of resource, including knowledge, evidence and learning for development logo, title, author, research question, and contents

Internally displaced people protection law and policy

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource from the Knowledge, evidence and learning for development (K4D) programme is a rapid literature review on lessons and promising practices from national-level experience with the development and implementation of legal and policy…
Screenshot showing first page of the resource, including the women peace and security helpdesk logo, resource title and date

Good practice for gender equality perception surveys

Published: - Tools and templates
This resource presents research and collation of  good practice and tips in designing perception surveys in order to understand gender equality issues, including recommendations on safeguarding, meaningful participation and inclusion. The paper…
Screenshot showing the cover page of the resource, including the human dignity trust logo, title and person holding up a ‘love is a terrible thing to hate’ poster.

Establishing a framework for the implementation of legislation to address anti-LGBT hate crime

Published: - Report
This resource sets out the ‘next steps’ for governments that establish anti- lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) hate crime laws to support them in ensuring that those laws are applied fairly and robustly. It provides a framework that…
a screenshot showing the title of the podcast, the date of publication and a photo of women selling food, sitting on a bench reading and drinking.

Interrogating gender inequalities in African cities

Published: - Multimedia, Podcast
This podcast explores gender inequalities and exclusion faced by women in Africa, with particular focus on experiences of low-income urban residents. It examines how women are impacted by issues related to:economic opportunitiesurban development and…
Screenshot showing the first page of the resource, including the knowledge for development logo, title, question and contents.

Donor support for the human rights of LGBT+

Published: - Evidence digest, Mapping
This resource from the Knowledge, evidence and learning for development (K4D) helpdesk is a rapid review focused on identifying donor support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT+) rights. It looks at how bilateral and multilateral…
Screenshot showing the first page of the resource, including the title and Inclusive futures and Ukaid logos.

Who are the ‘bottom billion’? Women and girls

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource is part of a series of ‘poverty profiles’ by the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk (DI HD) focused on eight of the most marginalised group-based identities. It responds to the fact that global progress has not benefitted everyone equally,…
a screenshot of the first page of resource, showing the title, inclusive futures and ukaid logos, and an introduction.

Who are the 'bottom billion'? LGBT people

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource is part of a series of ‘poverty profiles’ by the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk (DI HD) focused on eight of the most marginalised group-based identities. It responds to the fact that global progress has not benefitted everyone equally,…
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Policy and administrative barriers to internally displaced persons (IDPs) accessing basic services

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource from the Knowledge, evidence and learning for development (K4D) helpdesk examines available evidence on policy and administrative barriers faced by internally displaced persons. It looks at how they are impacted while accessing basic…
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Discriminatory law reform: how legal barriers affecting women’s economic empowerment can be overcome

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource from the Work and Opportunities for Women helpdesk (WOW helpdesk) is an evidence review which outlines how discriminatory laws affect women's economic empowerment, both directly and indirectly. It presents  lessons learned on how…
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Impact lessons: engaging marginalised communities in national policy formation

Published: - Guidance document, Policy paper
This report sets out key benefits of involving marginalised groups in the development of national policy. It shares findings from the Impact Initiative's ‘Engaging marginalised communities in national policy formation’ virtual event held in 2020.…
Screenshot showing first page of the resource, including inclusive futures logo and Ukaid logo, the title, authors, date of publication, query questions, and enquiry. It also shows the outline of contents and the first part of the introduction.

Disability inclusion in climate change programming in the Middle East

Published: - Guidance document, Tools and templates
This resource from the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk (DI HD) provides guidance on how to incorporate disability inclusion within climate change programming in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), Syria, Turkey and Yemen.…
a screenshot of the first page of the resource showing the title, work and opportunities for women logo, ukaid logo and an introduction.

Women’s economic empowerment and disability inclusion in financial services

Published: - Fact sheet 
This resource from the Work and Opportunities for Women helpdesk (WOW helpdesk) focuses on women’s economic empowerment and disability inclusion in financial services. It highlights barriers to accessing financial services experienced by women and…
Screenshot showing the first page of the resource, including the title and Inclusive futures and Ukaid logos.

Who are the ‘bottom billion’? Young people

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource is part of a series of ‘poverty profiles’ by the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk (DI HD) focused on eight of the most marginalised group-based identities. It responds to the fact that global progress has not benefitted everyone equally,…
a screenshot of the cover page of the resource showing the title, and the logos of work and opportunities for women, ukaid, pricewaterhousecoopers, business fights poverty and havard kennedy school.

Women and the net zero economy: a transition toolkit for businesses with global supply chains

Published: - Guidance document, Tools and templates
This resource from the Work and Opportunities for Women helpdesk (WOW helpdesk) is aimed at sustainability, climate and procurement professionals working in multinational companies. It explains how companies can make their work more environmentally…
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LGBT Rights and inclusion in small island developing states

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource from the Knowledge, evidence and learning for development (K4D) programme is a review that looks at the extent to which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights are provided for under law in a range of small island…
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What works on rights and participation for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities: a rapid review

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This resource from the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk (DI HD) explains what works to ensure that people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities can enjoy their human rights and participate at all levels of decision-making. It…
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Key facts in women’s economic empowerment

Published: - Report
This resource from the Work and Opportunities for Women helpdesk (WOW helpdesk) provides key facts relating to the case for promoting women’s economic empowerment in development programming and business planning. It explains what companies can do to…
Screenshot showing the first page of the report, including title, authors, query question, the body of introducing text, and the UKaid logo

Evidence on Global Rollback of Women’s Rights 

Published: - Evidence/literature review
This report examines the evidence and data on whether there is a rollback of women’s rights globally and how this is impacting women’s safety and security. The resource looks at the evidence on global rollback of women’s rights in legislation,…
A screenshot of the first page of the resource, showing the title, publisher’s logos, an image of people in a special needs class in Ethiopia, followed by resource text.

Adolescents with disabilities: enhancing resilience and delivering inclusive development

Published: - Policy paper
This policy note summarises key findings from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) report on the wellbeing of adolescents with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It draws on a thematic evidence review, combined…
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Modern slavery and women’s economic empowerment: discussion document

Published: - Report
This resource from the Work and Opportunities for Women helpdesk (WOW helpdesk) explores how women’s economic empowerment can reduce the risk of modern slavery while also creating a positive impact for women. It examines the drivers of modern…
a screenshot of the first page of the resource, showing the title, text, a photo of children sitting in the classroom and logos of the publishers.

Adolescents with disabilities: enhancing resilience and delivering inclusive development

Published: - Graphic resource, Multimedia, Policy paper, Report
This policy note sets out the barriers faced by adolescents with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries. It summarises the findings and recommendations from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) report ‘Adolescents with…