This briefing note provided to us by Employment Solicitor Rebecca Bull examines the interaction between the Equality Act 2010 (“EqA 2010”) and the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (“GRA 2004”). The note can be accessed here: Impact of gender recognition on…
Read More Briefing Note: Impact of Gender Recognition Reform on Sex Based Rights
This blog looks at the potential UK wide effects of gender recognition reform in Scotland. Although the Scottish Government's consultation paper does not include a specific discussion of the cross-border implications, the provisions in the draft Bill suggest that a…
This briefing examines the guidance proposed by UK census authorities to accompany the sex question. We argue that the UK is currently at risk of losing meaningful data on a key demographic variable used by policy-makers and statisticians, and recommend…
Read More MBM view on proposals for the sex question in the UK 2021 census
This briefing looks at gender recognition reform in Belgium and draws lessons for Scotland. Gender recognition reform in Belgium: Lessons for Scotland The analysis is based on data published by the Belgium Institute for the Equality of Women and Men…
Read More Gender recognition reform in Belgium: lessons for Scotland
We have today published our review of the Scottish Government’s draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. The review can be accessed here: Our review assesses the draft bill and consultation paper against 20 questions we published in October 2019. These…
Read More MBM assessment of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Government's interpretation of relevant case law, and the policy's apparent incompatibility with the 2011 Prison Rules both suggest the need for further clarification in this area.
Within the last fifteen months, an intense debate has broken out over whether the sex question in the 2021 census should be framed in terms of self-declared gender identity, legal or biological sex. We think that this loss of consensus…
1. 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…
Read More Recording sex on medical records: a case study of NHS Scotland
Background 1. In December 2019 the Scottish Government published its draft Bill on reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) and opened its plans to consultation. The draft Bill can be accessed here, the explanatory notes here, and the consultation…
Read More Gender Recognition Act reform: The purpose of the GRA
"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 Statement on the 2nd Scottish Government consultation on GRA reform
