Gender recognition
In September 2019 we launched a crowd funder, aimed at publishing a detailed, evidence-based response the Scottish Government’s draft Gender Recognition Bill, as well as supplementary briefings and media articles. Our work in this area, together with our analysis on gender self-identification laws and polices to date, will be published on this page.
Background
We have published detailed, evidence-based responses to the Scottish Government’s 2019 consultation on its draft Gender Recognition Bill, and more recently, to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee call for views on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Both can be accessed below.
Latest updates and analysis
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Cross-border discussion on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill
On 21 January 2023 the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Shona Robison MSP wrote to the Secretary of State for Scotland regarding the Gender Recognition...
1st June 2023
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Gender Recognition, ECHR compliance and the Scottish Human Rights Commission
The Scottish Parliament cannot legislate in contravention of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). At the time the Gender Recognition Act 2004 was passed, it was viewed as...
17th April 2023
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MBM statement on the Scottish Government decision to seek judicial review of the Section 35 order blocking the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Last week, in a widely publicised intervention, the EHRC advised that it would be helpful to amend the Equality Act to make clear that “sex” means “biological sex”. The...
12th April 2023
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Defining “sex” in Scotland: how the recent EHRC letter relates to Scottish legal analysis and politics
On 4 April, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) responded to a request for advice from the UK Government’s Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, on...
10th April 2023
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Hard to reach or hard to hear? The price of finding women who count
In 2016, the Scottish Government committed to establish a First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG), ‘to help drive forward action to tackle gender inequality’. The...
4th April 2023
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The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: where now?
A report yesterday attributed this position to the Leader of Scottish Labour, on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Mr Sarwar earlier suggested to journalists that the Section 35...
19th February 2023
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Lucy Hunter Blackburn: Speech to Forth Valley Feminists’ Women’s Festival, 4 February 2023
Women and the Scottish Parliament: what the Gender Recognition Reform Bill taught us So first of all thank you for inviting me to speak on behalf of the three...
6th February 2023