The Married Women’s Association (MWA) was the first pressure group of the twentieth century to demand, as its core focus, legal and economic equality for spouses. Formed in 1938, the MWA emphasised the language of equal partnership in marriage and … Read more
The Matrimonial Causes Act 1937 extended the grounds for divorce so that both women and men could end their marriage on the basis of desertion or cruelty, in addition to the existing single ground of adultery. Section 2 provided that … Read more
In July 1930, ‘responding to a widespread and responsible demand’, the Ministry of Health issued Memorandum 153/MCW permitting Local Authorities to give birth control advice to married women for whom a further pregnancy would be detrimental to health. Having regard … Read more
Section 1 of the Age of Marriage Act 1929 (1929 Act) stated that ‘A marriage between two persons either of whom is under the age of sixteen shall be void’. It created an equal age of consent to marriage for … Read more
The Adoption of Children Act 1926 was the first legislation enabling the legal adoption of children in England and Wales, with equivalent legislation passed in Ireland in 1929 and in Scotland in 1930. While it had general benefit, especially to … Read more
The Guardianship of Infants Act 1925 was a significant step, both in the long march of married women towards equal rights over their children and in the recognition of the importance of the welfare of children when making decisions about … Read more
This case established that the abortion legislation in Northern Ireland breached Article 8 of the ECHR by failing to provide an exception to the prohibition on abortion in cases of a fatal foetal abnormality (at any time during the pregnancy) or where the pregnancy is the result of sexual crime (up to the date when the foetus is capable of existing independently of the mother).
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 was the first statute to regulate the provision of abortion in Ireland.
The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 seeks to protect individuals forced into marriage without their consent.
White v White introduced the equal sharing principle in property division on divorce.