Professor Shazia Choudhry appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission

Professor of Law and Jeffrey Hackney Fellow in Law at Wadham College, Shazia Choudhry, has been appointed as a Commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to commence on the 1 January 2026.

The Commission, established in 2007, has responsibility for the promotion and enforcement of equality and non-discrimination laws in England, Scotland and Wales. It is separate from, and independent of, Government but accountable for its use of public funds. There are currently four commissioners who are appointed by the Minister for Women and Equalities.

Shazia’s research focuses on gender, human rights and violence against women and seeks to examine various dimensions of these areas from an interdisciplinary and feminist perspective. Her previous appointments include Specialist Adviser to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into Violence against Women (2014-15), Specialist Adviser to the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill (2019) and Specialist Adviser to the Women and Equalities Committee (2024). She has also served as an expert evaluator for the European Commission, and as an expert for the Council of Europe, the UN, the UNFPA. She was also the UK Government's nominee for the UN CEDAW Committee elections in 2024.

Shazia says of her appointment: “I am honoured to join the Equality and Human Rights Commission and I look forward to contributing my expertise to the Commission’s vital work in protecting and advancing equality and human rights for all.’