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Commenting in response to new figures on the gender pay gap from the Office for National Statistics, Laura Carstensen, Commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said yesterday;

"In today’s world women should not face injustices like the gender pay gap, especially when data shows time after time girls and women are outperforming males at every stage in education.

“Whilst this is an encouraging small step in closing the gender pay gap more must still be done to ensure we see real progress.

“We cannot continue to accept that a woman embarking upon her working life can expect to be paid less because of her sex and that this will only get worse throughout her career. This unfairness won’t damage her alone but also those dependent on her and ultimately the enterprises and economy of this country which will fail to harness and reward all of our best talent."

Notes to Editors

• For further information please contact the media office on 0161 829 8102, out of hours 07767 272 818.  
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006. It operates as an independent body to protect and promote equality and human rights in Great Britain. It aims to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and promote and protect human rights. The Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. It encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and is accredited by the UN as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution.