Women still suffer despite world laws against sex biasA survey of female lawyers around the world has found that the overwhelming majority of countries have some form of laws outlawing sexual discrimination and harassment.But the International Bar Association survey, conducted by Jane Mann, chairwoman of the Employment Lawyers Association and head of employment at City firm Fox Williams, also found that sex discrimination is 'widespread in practice.

In some countries, pregnant women are regularly ousted and men preferred over women for certain jobs.Ms Mann said: 'Virtually every country that we had a response from had some form of law against sex discrimination, and most had laws against sexual harassment.

This was quite surprising, but very cheering.'She added that in many countries, there was frequent discrimination in practice, despite these laws.The survey comes ahead of the IBA's world women lawyers conference next week.See Editorial, page 14 and Feature, page 36Victoria MacCallum