"As part of the current NACWG spotlight on justice, we would like to draw your attention to a recent case which we think raises questions about how sex and gender are recorded within the criminal justice system, and reported by…
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Stage One debate on the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: MBM briefing
Overview It is planned that the 2021 Census will gather data for the first time on sexual orientationand on the transgender population, using voluntary questions. The census is the ideal way to gather information on relatively small populations like these.…
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The case for due diligence: assessing and owning policy and practice
How do public authorities ensure that their policies, practices and services are fair and non-discriminatory? In Scotland, the standard approach is to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) which allows authorities to assess the impact of policies, practices or services…
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Finding the middle ground: sex and gender identity in the 2021 census
This blog looks at some of the arguments and assumptions against retaining a binary sex question in the census and draws out the policy and legal implications. The analysis is based on evidence and arguments presented to the Culture, Tourism,…
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Stage 1 report on Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: MBM response
MurrayBlackburnMackenzie response to publication of the Stage 1 report on the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: "We welcome the Stage 1 report of the CTEEA Committee on the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Act. We are pleased to note the Committee’s support for…
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Assessing GRA reform: MBM letter to the National Advisory Council on Women & Girls (28 January 2019)
We welcome the establishment of the Advisory Council as a forum to champion the interests of women and girls in issues which are, or should be, receiving current political attention. Given that the Advisory Council’s focus in 2019 will be…
Where next for the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill?
This note reflects on the arguments put forward during Stage 1 of the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill and the choices facing the Committee at this stage. [Numbers in brackets refer to notes at the end.] Background The Bill has been…
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Sex and the Census: A review of the sex question since 2001
Introduction This review looks at how the ‘sex’ question has been interpreted in the Censuses for Scotland and for England and Wales since 2001, and plans for England and Wales in 2021. The analysis shows differing interpretations of the sex…
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Scottish local authorities, ‘sex’ and the Equality Act 2010
Review of 32 Scottish local authorities: Representation of the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ under the Equality Act 2010 1. The purpose of this research was to investigate how the 32 Scottish local authorities are representing the provisions of the…
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Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: MBM evidence to the CTEEA Committee
Introduction We are grateful for the opportunity to submit evidence as part of the Committee’s Stage 1 considerations of the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill. The Bill will enable voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity to be added to…
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