Updates • Page 3
The very latest news and updates from Sex Matters.
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Council of Europe Commissioner told to respect UK’s rule of law
The Home Secretary has strongly criticised Dr Michael O’Flaherty, the new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, for...
22nd October 2025
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Legal update: anonymity and urgency granted on our Hampstead ponds case
We’ve had an important step in our legal challenge over the Hampstead Heath swimming ponds. The High Court issued...
20th October 2025
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Combatting exposure and voyeurism
The Crime and Policing Bill is currently going through the House of Lords. It includes a clause that amends...
16th October 2025
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The City of London Corporation consults…
The City of London Corporation has launched a public consultation on future access arrangements at Hampstead Heath’s swimming ponds....
15th October 2025
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The Scottish Government has dropped its unlawful toilets policy
On 30th September, Sex Matters lodged a petition for judicial review of the failure by the Scottish Government to...
6th October 2025
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A new initiative for sex-based rights and political courage in Europe
Sex Matters is proud to have supported the foundation of Athena Forum, a much-needed European initiative to fight for...
3rd October 2025
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The state of affairs in protecting women’s sport
Progress has been made, but some sports are still lagging behind in spite of the Supreme Court judgment. What...
26th September 2025
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The government must fix the flaw in its digital identity plan
Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme for the right to work. Whatever...
26th September 2025
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Hampstead ponds: we have filed our case!
Sex Matters has filed its claim to the High Court seeking permission for a judicial review of the decision...
23rd August 2025
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Virgin Active brings its changing rooms policy in line with the law after threat of legal action
Virgin Active has changed its changing-room policy to ensure that biological men (including those who identify as “transgender women”)...
15th August 2025
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Model policy for schools: updated
Sex Matters’ model policy for schools has now been updated following the Supreme Court’s judgment in For Women Scotland....
29th July 2025
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EHRC consultation: justification
This is the fourth in a series of posts focusing in detail on individual parts of the Equality and...
29th July 2025
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EHRC consultation: sport
This is the third in a series of posts focusing in detail on individual parts of the Equality and...
29th July 2025
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The next EHRC chair must uphold the law
Sex Matters has written to two Parliamentary committees, the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Women and Equalities...
23rd July 2025
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The Scottish Government has offered to meet us
We have received a letter from the Scottish Government’s Director of People, Dr Nicola Richards, offering a meeting. Richards...
15th July 2025
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“Women-only” doesn’t mean single sex says Corporation of London
There are three swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath, managed by the Corporation of London: a mixed pond, a men’s...
13th July 2025
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Duty bearers under the Equality Act must act now
Ben Cooper KC of Old Square Chambers (who represented Sex Matters in our intervention in For Women Scotland) has...
8th July 2025
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The Scottish Government has stopped hiding behind the EHRC: now it must act
The Scottish Government has stopped hiding behind the claim that it needs to wait for the Equality and Human...
4th July 2025
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EHRC consultation: asking about sex at birth
This is the second in a series of posts focusing in detail on individual parts of the Equality and...
4th July 2025
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The EHRC code of practice should stick to the law
This is the first in a series of posts focusing in detail on individual parts of the Equality and...
30th June 2025
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Digital identities risk enabling “catfishing” crimes
The Children’s Commissioner’s Office has agreed to meet with Sex Matters after we raised concerns that the government’s plans...
29th June 2025
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New report on everyday cancellation in publishing
Has publishing has become a hostile environment for people who hold gender-critical beliefs? New research commissioned by Sex Matters...
27th June 2025
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Kenwood Ladies’ Pond: letter before action
Sex Matters has threatened the City of London with legal action if it doesn’t drop its gender self-ID policy...
27th June 2025
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The Scottish Government must be made to follow the law
Sex Matters has sent a letter before action to the Scottish Government, putting it on notice that we will...
18th June 2025
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Police forces withdraw unlawful search policies
Six police forces have now folded to our legal challenge and will not be defending their unlawful policies in...
16th June 2025
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What Law & Disorder got wrong about the FWS judgment
Three legal luminaries discussed the For Women Scotland judgment on their Law & Disorder podcast, writes Sex Matters chair...
12th June 2025
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A template for clear guidance
The single-sex and separate-sex service exceptions in the Equality Act should be straightforward and easy to apply. But they...
30th May 2025
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Unions at legal crossroads
In the six weeks since the Supreme Court ruled that “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex,...
27th May 2025
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It’s time for a product recall
When businesses become aware that a product they have distributed poses a risk to users, they issue urgent and...
23rd May 2025
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Toilets and human rights
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has made clear an important implication of the Supreme Court ruling: when...
22nd May 2025
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Poll shows public support for the Supreme Court decision
On 16th April the UK Supreme Court issued a ruling about the definition of a woman and sex in...
20th May 2025
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Why “sorry” is the hardest word
During the weeks since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biology, much...
20th May 2025