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Alice McCool

@mccoolingtons.bsky.social
5.5K followers 1.1K following 150 posts

❌ On sick leave ❌ Journalist + feminist. Investigative reporter at The Nerve. Formerly Good Law Project. Other bylines inc The Guardian, CNN, Dazed, TIME Magazine. They/them. www.alicemccool.com

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Reposted by Alice McCool
Feena van @feenavan2099.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
"Liberia says it will receive up to 1,200 people deported from the US, including Africans and nationals from South America and the Caribbean. The agreement makes Liberia the 14th African country to sign a deportation deal with Washington."
youtu.be
How Africa has become part of America's deportation strategy | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 20/08/2026
One thing I wish people would realize is just how central JK Rowling is to the entire anti-trans ecosystem. Looking at a network node analysis of the top 200 anti-trans X accounts, she is the most central figure spanning both sides of the Atlantic from Republicans to Labour.
A network graph visualization on a dark background showing connections between various accounts. The central, highly connected node is labeled "J.K. Rowling," with lines radiating out to many other nodes color-coded by region (UK, US, etc.). A detail panel on the right displays stats for her account, including her role as "Author & commentator," an in-degree of 153, an out-degree of 84, and 14 million followers.A scatter plot graph on a dark background comparing accounts based on "followers (log)" on the x-axis and "in-degree" on the y-axis. The data points are color-coded by region. J.K. Rowling is highlighted as a major outlier in the top right corner, possessing the highest number of followers and the highest in-degree. Other labeled points lower on the graph include various politicians, individuals, and campaign organizations.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Fascinating explainer by the brilliant @garnethenderson.com into an ADF supported case in the US. In the UK, ADF (which was central to overturning US abortion rights) has been directly linked to Nigel Farage and has threatened to sue community sports group Parkrun for their trans-inclusive policy.
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Reposted by Alice McCool
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Well this is dark. Lawyer Joseph McBride is flooding the world with AI-slop memes to fight the pretrial detention of accused rapists Andrew and Tristan Tate. @annamerlan.bsky.social pulled up his legal resumé and it's 👀
motherjones.com
The Tate brothers’ lawyer is on an aggressive, AI-riddled quest to win their release
Joseph McBride's strident defense of the accused rapists includes a flood of faked propaganda images.
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I've been combing through Reform UK's latest party accounts. Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over. £31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering. They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
REFORM UK
Income and Expenditure Account
for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes 2025 2024
£ £
Income
Donation income 2 22,872,257 5,861,950
Fundraising income 3 1,418,902 389,703
Merchandise sales 3 719,742 48,593
Membership fees 4 5,976,354 4,344,371
Notional income 144,880 -
Investment income 5 96,750 1,874
Miscellaneous income 6 633,535 186,225
Total income 31,862,420 10,832,716
Staff costs 10 2,966,604 741,146
Depreciation 12 27,393 1,710
Premises costs 499,635 144,226
Office costs 8,944,096 2,601,650
Campaign cost 4,376,601 4,248,408
Fundraising costs 3,472,805 1,341,280
Notional expenditure 144,880 -
Branch campaigning costs 736,958 -
Financing charges 11 400,587 236,167
Total Expenditure 21,569,559 9,314,587
Surplus before taxation 10,292,861 1,518,129
Tax on surplus (98,296) -
Surplus for the financial year 10,194,565 1,518,129
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Reposted by Alice McCool
TACC @tacc.org.uk · 29/07/2026
"Unison, Aslef, Usdaw, and the Musicians’ Union will not attend Labour Women’s Conference in September over the decision to ban trans women from formal proceedings at the event. The unions are among Labour’s largest financial backers..."
metro.co.uk
Powerful unions boycott Labour Women's Conference over trans ban
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Read my full investigation here: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Handy network map here (credit to @thenerve.news' legendary creative director Lynsey Irvine):
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
NEW: CPAC GB last week was written off as a flop. But the network behind it is no joke... My latest investigation for @thenerve.news on its right wing Catholic Gen Z organisers + the web of global dark money forces around them, from US Christian Right to Hungary: www.thenerve.news/p/cpac-confe...
thenerve.news
Liz Truss, dark money and the gen-Z Catholics: who’s behind CPAC in the UK?
The British debut of Maga’s favourite conference last week was widely seen as a joke. But a Nerve investigation reveals its young organisers are part of a web of culture-war connections – from the US ...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Dr Nafeez Ahmed @nafeez.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
1/🧵EXCLUSIVE: @bylinetimes.bsky.social's six-month investigation into Reform UK's policy chief: a secret donation from Peter Thiel, Thiel's life-changing offers to Cambridge scholars, and a far-right, theocratic student recruitment drive in breach of safeguarding bylinetimes.com/2026/07/09/p...
bylinetimes.com
Palantir Co-Founder Peter Thiel and Reform UK's Cambridge University Recruitment Pipeline Project Revealed
The world-renowned academic institution has nothing to say in response to a six-month investigation by Byline Times raising serious concerns about the safeguarding of students and foreign influence at...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
TransActual @transactualuk.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
When human rights are under attack the role of the press should be to challenge those in power – not cheer them on. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
thebureauinvestigates.com
UK newspapers ignore Amnesty International research on anti-trans bias
Research by human rights group identifies nearly 17,000 articles on trans-related topics in just five years
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
🚨 NEW: How are ultra-conservative networks infiltrating human rights in the UK? In my latest for @goodlawproject.org I expose how the new head of the EHRC (supposed to protect our rights + equalities) in Scotland is linked to dark money funded anti-abortion groups goodlawproject.org/ehrcs-new-ch...
goodlawproject.org
EHRC’s new chair in Scotland linked to anti-abortion dark money groups | Good Law Project
Human rights watchdog appoints barrister Alasdair Henderson, despite links to groups opposing women’s and LGBTQ+ rights
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Lois McLatchie Miller on the ballot adds to evidence that global Christian right orgs + ppl linked to them are targeting the UK. Legal cases funded by such groups have already influenced NHS policy on trans healthcare. Abortion isn't safe either - we don't have full decrim. 5/5
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
ADF has recently teamed up with Tory peer Sharron Davies to issue an anti-trans legal threat against community sports groups in the UK such as Parkrun. It has also worked directly with Paul Conrathe, the British Christian right lawyer who represents detransitioner Keira Bell 4/5
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Back to ADF. It's linked to Reform via Nigel Farage + James Orr + has been ramping up UK spending/activities inc litigation + events like 'March for Life'. JD Vance has used ADF cases supporting abortion buffer zone breachers as examples of attacks on 'free speech' in the UK 3/5
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
But she's not exactly interested in the election...Lois has barely posted about her campaign...and was in Central America as of 2 days ago. Today, she's put out posts in support of a guy who breached an abortion safe zone + reposted a reply to 1 of her posts from Elon Musk. 2/5
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🚨 #Voting in Maida Vale today? Pls know 1 of #Reform's candidates is a recent staffer at the intl' arm of the dark money org behind the overturn of US #abortion rights. In Dec anti-abortion/LGBT activist + Spectator contributor Lois McLatchie Miller left ADF after 7 YEARS. 1/5
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Cute video to go with our news! Congrats to the other new recruits @luciaoc.bsky.social @sangitamyska.bsky.social and @doctorow.pluralistic.net 🤩 You can subscribe to (or become a paying member of) @thenerve.news here: www.thenerve.news/membership
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
I also want to thank @goodlawproject.org for giving me the opp to dig into anti-gender networks over the past year. Their dedication to that cause in the face of so much hate is nothing short of heroic 🙇 P.s. If you've been following my work in that area, rest assured I'm keeping it up...more soon!
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
🚨 I'm joining @thenerve.news! Pretty surreal to be mentioned alongside as such a talented lineup 🙈 Thanks are in order to @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for supporting me always –can't wait to learn more from you and The Nerve's other legendary all women co-founders! pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Miriam Quick @miriamquick.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
I designed the graphics for this important story by @mccoolingtons.bsky.social and @ludovicparsons.bsky.social. Take care when reading, topic is upsetting.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story can contact Samaritans on 116 123, Mind on 0300 123 3393 or Switchboard on 0800 0119 100. Readers in the US can contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Thank you also to @miriamquick.bsky.social for the powerful visuals, and of course to @goodlawproject.org @jolyon.goodlawproject.org ect.org @wearequeeraf.com @jamiewareham.co.uk for publishing the story.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Thank you to the bereaved loved ones, whistleblowers + experts who spoke to us for this piece including @alicemydaughter.bsky.social @inquest.bsky.social @lgbtfdn.bsky.social, as well as the many others who are not named or mentioned directly.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
This story wouldn't have been poss without Trans Lives, a new project by @lucybrisbane.bsky.social collecting data on trans deaths + lives. If you have lost someone + want to make sure their story is counted, pls reach out so we can better monitor + prevent these tragedies: www.translives.co.uk
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
NEW: For months @ludovicparsons.bsky.social + I have been piecing together info on trans deaths in the UK from datasets, FOIs, coroners’ reports + interviews. We found that trans people are disproportionately dying by suicide. Many are kids. Full investigation: goodlawproject.org/trans-people...
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Reposted by Alice McCool
QueerAF @wearequeeraf.com · 23/04/2026
We’ve spent months building a picture of trans deaths in the UK, with our lead investigative journalist @ludovicparsons.bsky.social and @mccoolingtons.bsky.social What we found is devastating. 📩 Get the full investigation this Saturday 👇 www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/?u...
Smiling protester with green hair holds a hand-painted sign reading “Trans youth deserve better,” surrounded by Pride flags at a busy street march.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Thanks to The Nerve for this fab data viz of the #Orbán backed influence operation I uncovered for @goodlawproject.org. And this is just the guys mentioned in my latest piece for @thenerve.news. There’s no way the whole network would fit…story here if you missed it: www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Thanks for having me @indexoncensorship.org and Pushkin House! It was really great to debrief with my v knowledgeable fellow panelists and audience following the Hungarian election result ✊👀
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I’d love to meet other journos reporting on gender, tech/disinfo, + global far right networks, particularly if you're from outside the UK 💞 I’m also picking up more freelance commissions atm so I’m keen to chat to editors interested in my work 🤓 More about me here: www.alicemccool.com 3/3
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I've been covering beats in the human rights sphere for global media for over a decade. I specialise in feminist journalism + have reported on gender across 4 continents, particularly East Africa. For the last year, I’ve been investigating the UK anti-gender movement for @goodlawproject.org 🧐 2/3
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I’m vvv excited to be at the @journalismfestival.com in #Perugia this year for the first time! Pls give me a shout if you’d like to meet up or you're running an event I should come to! Hopefully when you see me I won’t look so knackered - I got a night flight and sleep has passed me by 🫠 1/3
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
You will* be surprised to see that prominent anti-trans campaigners are all tied up in this far-right ecosystem. *will not "With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?"
thenerve.news
With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?
Hungary’s new PM has described his predecessor’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate. This could be bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK – and around the rest of the...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Thanks to @zsolt.bsky.social @goodlawproject.org @transparencyuk.bsky.social @spotlightcorruption.org @timpicton.bsky.social 4 speaking to me about whether Hungary's new PM can recover the network's assets, which he says was criminal for Orbán to fund. Their takes: www.thenerve.news/p/viktor-orb...
thenerve.news
With Orbán gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree?
Hungary’s new PM has described his predecessor’s funding of propaganda bodies as criminal and vowed to investigate. This could be bad news for ultraconservatives in the UK – and around the rest of the world, writes Alice McCool
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Thank you Tim @spotlightcorruption.org for speaking to me for this piece! P.s. If anyone's interested, @timpicton.bsky.social is secretly an investigative journalist, he just won't admit it 🙃
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Thanks 2 those who picked up my findings + uncovered lots more twists + turns @bylinetimes.bsky.social @ollyhaynes.bsky.social @peterjukes.bsky.social @josiahmortimer.bsky.social @writesbright.bsky.social @petergeoghegan.bsky.social @desmog.com. Mainstream media, hbu? bylinetimes.com/2026/04/14/e...
bylinetimes.com
EXPOSED: How Viktor Orbán Bankrolled the Network Around Reform UK
As Hungary’s Prime Minister suffers a historic electoral defeat, Byline Times maps out how his government’s funding arm channelled hundreds of thousands of pounds into organisations at the heart of Br...
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
As @writesbright.bsky.social @desmog.com told me yesterday, Matt Goodwin failed to answer an audience question at an event in Budapest yesterday about where he is still paid by the Orbán propaganda outfit. Plus, he's listed as a visiting fellow on the event page, soo 🤷🏻 www.desmog.com/2026/04/14/r...
desmog.com
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Here's my piece which revealed that defeated Reform byelection candidate Matt Goodwin was paid up to €10K a month by the Orbán-backed group as a "visiting fellow." #Reform told me he was only in that role briefly, but I'm not sure about that (see next) goodlawproject.org/orbans-pay-c...
goodlawproject.org
Orbán’s pay cheques: Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil
The Reform candidate at this month’s byelection claims he wants to put Britain first, but is he still on the payroll of Viktor Orbán’s far-right propaganda unit?
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Here's my piece which broke the story about how an Orbán-linked, #Russian oil fuelled think tank is funding a UK charity – and how they use it to access the British establishment via prestigious institutions like Oxbridge. goodlawproject.org/putins-megap...
goodlawproject.org
Putin’s megaphone: Orbán’s far-right push into UK universities is fuelled by Russian oil
Good Law Project has uncovered a network funded by Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orbán, that uses profits from refining Russian oil to platform far right and anti-trans campaigners in the UK
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
📢 NEW: #Orbán is out! What does this mean for his far-right, ultra-conservative, anti-immigration, anti-trans + anti-everything cronies? I spoke to some pros on this for @thenerve.news + looked back at the Orbán-funded, #Reform linked UK network I uncovered for @goodlawproject.org 👀
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Could MattGPT face scrutiny under the UK’s ‘proceeds of crime’ law? The British right is awash with money from Orban thinktanks…which Hungary’s new PM says was stolen. Brilliant deep dive into Orban’s vast UK network by @McCoolingtons for @thenerve_news. 👏
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Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 13/04/2026
After Viktor Orbán’s loss in the weekend’s Hungarian elections, what does this moment signal for democracy, free expression and the future of Europe? Tomorrow’s @indexoncensorship.org panel features our very own Alice McCool: bit.ly/4tGXekv
pushkinhouse.org
What Next for Europe? Hungary, Russia and the New Era of Illiberal Democracies
Talk: What Next for Europe? Hungary, Russia and the New Era of Illiberal Democracies
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I’m speaking at this event next Tues following my investigation into a far-right, anti-gender network in the UK funded by Viktor #Orbán. This may sound niche but #Hungary matters. JD #Vance is there rn trying to save Orbán whose 16yr rule might come to an end on Sunday… Get your tickets here 👇👀
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Reposted by Alice McCool
Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 04/04/2026
Our investigation in Byline Times exposes a network of global ultra-conservative groups using courts to target trans healthcare. bylinetimes.com/2026/04/02/how-the-…
bylinetimes.com
How the US Christian Right and Anti-Abortion Lobbyists are Reshaping NHS Policy
A new investigation exposes a global network of anti-abortion groups and US Christian nationalists using UK courts to target bodily autonomy
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
📢 NEW: My @goodlawproject.org investigation in @bylinetimes.bsky.social exposes how US Christian Right dark money + anti-abortion lobbyists are quietly reshaping UK healthcare. Definitely one to share with 'gender critical' relatives this Easter... bylinetimes.com/2026/04/02/h...
bylinetimes.com
How the US Christian Right and Anti-Abortion Lobbyists are Reshaping NHS Policy
A new investigation exposes a global network of anti-abortion groups and US Christian nationalists using UK courts to target bodily autonomy
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Thanks to everyone for sharing this. Also interested in speaking to families in the same situation. Thank you so much.
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Urgent journo request: for @goodlawproject.org I'm looking to speak to friends of #trans ppl in the UK who have died whose #gender was not accurately recorded on their death certificate. I’m particularly interested in cases from the last year. I promise to handle your story with care 🖤
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Alice McCool @mccoolingtons.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Another major warning from the UN about the threats to #trans rights in the UK, raising serious concerns under international human rights law. This was issued 10 days ago. Where's the media coverage? www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
ohchr.org
UN experts urge UK to ensure equal protection for all women and girls and all transgender people
GENEVA – The United Kingdom must ensure its ongoing review of statutory guidance under the Equality Act remains compatible with international human rights law and upholds equal protections for all tra...
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Rivkah Brown @rivkahbrown.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
SCOOP: The UK gave £90,000 to an Israeli report claiming that Hamas used sexual violence as a “weapon of war”. The Israeli government used the UK-funded report in a massive propaganda campaign, while Israeli officials called it a “significant public diplomacy tool”.
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