While studying a module on Human Rights in Practice, four Warwick Law students embarked on a human rights project which led to an incredibly successful petition- gaining nearly 60,000 signatures.

In an article published in Lacuna, Warwick Law student, Helen Bates describes how her team began researching into sexism in the workplace to discover the scale and seriousness of pregnancy and maternity discrimination. Joining forces with Joeli Brearley, the founder of ‘Pregnant then Screwed’, they set up a petition that would extend pregnant mother’s legal rights to bring a discrimination claim to tribunal from 3 months to 6 months.

With some enthusiastic promotional support the petition gained over 1000 signatures within a few days, but nothing prepared them to wake up a day later and discover over 20,000 signatures- thanks to promotional support of Change.org, where the petition is being hosted. It has since become the focus of an Early Day Motion in Parliament, and Joeli, who is now primarily in charge of the project is also planning a march later this year.

Along the way they learned a number of valuable lessons- you can find out more about these by reading Helen’s article in the Lacuna Magazine.

You can also find out more about the work of Joeli Brearley in supporting mothers from pregnancy or maternity discrimination on the Pregnant Then Screwed website.