“The proposed 2021 census will probably be the most important for a generation. It will begin to show the devastating effects of Covid-19 on our communities and individuals. It is imperative that the largest number of our citizens are included.”Lord…
Read More A negligible effect? The untested assumptions behind plans for the 2021 census
Reform ‘under the radar’? Lessons for Scotland from the Development of Gender Self-Declaration Laws in Europe will be published in the forthcoming edition of Edinburgh Law Review vol. 24 (2): pp 281-289. May 2020 An advance copy is available here:…
Submitted to the UK Parliament Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on the impact of Covid-19 on those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 The Covid-19 pandemic is impacting on different protected groups in different ways. It appears that…
That women remain under-represented in public life is largely uncontested. Campaigns to improve the representation of women enjoy support across the political spectrum, even if there are differences in opinion on how that might be achieved. In early 2018, the…
This article originally appeared in The Scotsman on 1 January 2020. The link to the article has since been removed following a redesign of The Scotsman website. The Government must spell out the effect of gender recognition certificates on access…
Read More We need more clarity on gender rights debate from Scottish Government
We have today published our review of the Scottish Government’s draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. The review can be accessed here: MBM Assessment of draft Gender Recognition Bill and Consultation 24 January 2020 Our review assesses the draft bill…
Read More MBM assessment of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Background Sex is an objective, verifiable, fundamental and immutable characteristic of the human body. Belonging to either the male or the female sex category has profound impacts on the medical needs of a person. This includes needs pertaining to the…
Read More Recording sex on medical records: a case study of NHS Scotland
"We welcome this further consultation. We now need a transparent process, in which substantial questions about law, evidence and analysis receive substantial answers. The Scottish Government must engage fully with people from all perspectives, particularly groups who have expressed concern…
Read More MBM response to Scottish Government consultation on GRA reform
1. Background and timing In early 2020, the UK census authorities will finalise the questions they propose to ask in the next census, which will take place on 21 March 2021. Draft census orders will be laid in both the…
Read More Draft guidance under consideration for 2021 census sex question: summary of proposals
Conservatives: No reference to reform of the Gender Recognition Act. Liberal Democrats: "Complete reform of the Gender Recognition Act to remove the requirement for medical reports, scrap the fee and recognise non-binary gender identities." Other related proposals: "Introduce an ‘X’…
Read More 2019 UK general election party manifesto commitments on GRA reform
