Single sex services • Page 5
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What does case law say about single-sex services?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is planning to release new guidance on single-sex services imminently. Kishwer Falkner, Chair of the EHRC, agreed when Joanna Cherry QC MP asked her: “Would you agree with me that all guidance issued by EHRC should be grounded in statute and case law,...
3rd February 2022
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Recent cases – implications for single-sex and separate-sex services
This briefing considers the implications of the cases of Green v Secretary of State, for Justice, AEA v EHRC, Taylor v Jaguar Land Rover, Forstater v CGD and FDJ v Secretary of State for Justice for understanding the law in relation to single-sex services.
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Principles for clarity and respect in developing guidance for single-sex and separate-sex services
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is planning to release new guidance on single-sex services. We set out three questions and ten principles that it should base its guidance on – and explain why what’s needed are clear, simple rules in everyday language.
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Principles for clarity and respect
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is planning to release new guidance on single-sex services imminently. To support this Sex Matters is publishing two briefings. The first one sets out principles for clarity and respect for single-sex services. From everyday facilities such as toilets and changing rooms to...
28th January 2022
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The EHRC steps up
Sex Matters welcomes its statements on Gender Recognition Act reform and conversion therapy.
26th January 2022
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Clear rules and girls’ schools
Why the Girls' Day School Trust's single-sex policy is lawful and important.
11th January 2022
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Clear rules and girls’ schools
Why is the Girls’ Day School Trust’s new policy important and what are the implications for other charities and regulators in protecting human rights?
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Simple guidance for single-sex services
The Women and Equalities Committee has issued a new report that calls for guidance on the interaction between sex and “gender reassignment” in relation to single sex services. In other words, it wants clarification on whether it is legal to provide a service that is just for women and...
20th December 2021
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Single-sex services: model policy
If you want to run a single-sex service, our model policy lets you fill in the gaps – it’s tailored for women’s charities in England and Wales, but can be adapted by other organisations covered by the Equality Act 2010.
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Single-sex services: doing an equality impact assessment
If you want to provide a single-sex service for women only (or for men only), an equality impact assessment can help you show that your decision to provide a service for one sex only, or separately for women and men, was evidence-based.
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Single-sex services – providing a women-only service
We explain how charities, public services and commercial businesses can provide a single-sex service for women only (or for men only), with guidance about the Equality Act 2010.
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No need for sex data on domestic abuse?
Yesterday the Domestic Abuse Commissioner launched a survey for survivors of domestic abuse about their experience of using domestic abuse services across England and Wales: “We are running this survey so that we can understand what is good about domestic abuse services in different areas of the country, and...
7th December 2021
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EHRC to issue guidance on single-sex and separate-sex services
Baroness Falkner, Chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has told ministers that the body is acting on a request by MPs to issue hospitals, schools, prisons and private firms with “worked examples and guidance” that will “provide clarity … on the provision of single-sex services.” It is...
18th October 2021
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The EHRC must step up and provide clarity on single-sex services
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is consulting on its strategic plan for 2022–2025. We have made a submission in the form of a letter to the incoming head of the EHRC, Marcial Boo. Sex is one of the nine protected characteristics for which the EHRC is responsible. Fostering...
5th October 2021
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Truth and reconciliation
How should the public sector leave the Stonewall Champions Scheme?
6th June 2021
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Time to #LeaveStonewall
This is the letter we have sent to the CEOs of the 850 organisations that are members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme. Re: Leaving the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme We are writing to call on you to withdraw from the scheme, both for the sake of your own...
29th May 2021
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Are single-sex services legal?
Does the judgment in AEA v EHRC (where permission for a judicial review of the EHRC Statutory Code of Practice was refused) mean that the legality of single-sex services has changed? The answer is no. The Equality Act still allows single-sex services in a range of common everyday and specialist...
19th May 2021
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Sex Matters influences toilets policy
As reported in The Telegraph today the Government in England is going to amend building regulations and planning guidance to ensure separate sex toilet facilities are installed in new buildings or those being developed. This is good news. Sex Matters was amongst the many gender critical organisations and individuals...
16th May 2021
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Single-sex services – policy briefing
Our call for clear official guidance on single-sex and separate-sex exceptions in the Equality Act 2010.
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Is Gender Recognition an “access all areas” pass?
The Gender Recognition Act 2004 was passed with little public scrutiny or consideration for women’s rights. A critical question concerns the provision in Section 9 that a gender recognition certificate changes a person’s sex for all purposes. Is this an “access all areas“ pass? When the Act was passing...
14th April 2021
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Watching the watchdogs
The job of the Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) is to hold Government to account on equality law and policy, particularly the Equality Act 2010. It also scrutinises the equalities watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The Committee has received over 2,000 submissions in its current inquiry...
6th April 2021
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Stonewalling the Domestic Violence Bill: Why make “misogyny” gender neutral?
A short month ago there was an attempt to rush a bill through parliament that would set a precedent of “gender neutralising” motherhood in law; replacing the words mother or woman with “pregnant person” in the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances (MOMA) Bill. As Baroness Noakes highlighted, this is...
13th March 2021
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Toilets – a place where sex matters
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is undertaking a technical review on increasing accessibility and provision of toilets for men and women. We submitted a 60 page briefing . The submission is long, because the issue of who can use which toilets has become overly complicated and...
19th February 2021
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On toilet provision for men and women – technical briefing
A simple solution to replace ambiguous language and misleading guidance, for the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government.
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Gender self-declaration and women’s rights
Alessandra Asteriti and Rebecca Bull (2020) in the Modern Law Review analyse how self-identification will undermine women’s rights and lead to an increase in harms – a response to Professor Alex Sharpe’s paper arguing that it will not.
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GRA Reform: Evidence to the Women and Equality Select Committee
We submitted evidence to the Women and Equality Select Committee's Inquiry into Reform of the Gender Recognition Act.
4th January 2021
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Sex and the Equality Act
Julius Komorowski in the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland looks at what ‘sex’ means in the Equality Act, how it interacts with the Gender Recognition Act, and the implications for provision of services.
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A Question of Consent
‘Single sex spaces are a question of consent’ is a website and blog by Maya Forstater focused on single-sex services.
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Women’s Resource Centre report
Dr Louise Harvey-Golding and Dr Sue Robson’s 2019 research report is based on a survey and focus groups with English organisations providing services to women and girls. They explore the need for single-sex provision for women and girls and the difficulties providers face. .
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Gender Recognition Act reform – evidence submission
We answer the Women and Equalities Select Committee‘s questions and make six recommendations.
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Girls are skipping school to avoid sharing gender neutral toilets with boys after being left to feel unsafe and ashamed
Sanchez Manning, Social Affairs Correspondent for the Mail On Sunday.
Menstruating girls are staying home for fear of being made to feel 'period shame'. Some girls are risking infections by refusing to urinate all day or not drinking. Doctors and politicians called on schools to halt the move towards unisex toilets. -
Supporting women in domestic and sexual violence services
Giving a voice to silenced women: evidence from professionals and survivors – a report by Fair Play For Women