Joint Statement on the UK Government’s responsibility to uphold women’s sex-based rights

We welcome this week’s announcement by the Minister for Women and Equalities. We are pleased that she has struck a balance between improving the process for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) for trans people and restating the importance of women’s sex-based rights.

All of our campaigning has been clear that we want everyone to be able to live their life free from harassment or discrimination.

Women have worked hard to have our voices heard on issues that affect us. We are pleased that the Minister has listened. She has made clear that the law enables single-sex services and protections for women on the basis of biological sex.

We call on the Minister to make a clear statement about the operation of the single-sex exceptions under the Equality Act 2010 and how they interact with the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

We also call on her to make sure all guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to service providers, commissioners and employers is a clear and accurate reflection of the law. The same principle should apply to guidance to courts, other public authorities and media.

It is clear that too many women are being obstructed from accessing the services and support we need by the ignorance or intransigence of organisations which need to know the law better.

Fair Play For Women @fairplaywomen

FiLiA @FiLiA_charity

Institute of Feminist Thought  @Fem_Institute

Woman’s Place UK @Womans_Place_UK

Conservative Party CUP Women’s Pledge @CUPWomensPledge

Green Feminists Women and Girls Sex-Based Rights Declaration

Labour Party Women’s Declaration  @LabWomenDec

Liberal Democrats Women’s Sex-Based Rights Declaration @BasedLD

SNP Pledge Women’s Pledge @WomensPledge

Women’s Equality Party Sex-Based Rights Caucus @WepWomen

@WomenUnitingUK

#SexMatters

26th September 2020