Latest news with #Alsalem
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
No 'pause' needed after gender court ruling, says UN official
Special rapporteur questions delay following Supreme Court ruling Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A leading United Nations official has warned Scottish ministers that there is no need for them to 'put on hold' plans responding to the landmark Supreme Court gender ruling, with no "ambiguity' surrounding what the UK's highest court said. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said there should be no 'pause' in action taken by the Scottish Government to ensure the sex-based rights of women are upheld in the wake of the seminal ruling, which stated that 'sex' should be legally interpreted as referring to either a biological man or woman. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ruling in April has wide-ranging implications for public bodies, service providers, and businesses across the country, and the Scottish Government has said that work is ongoing in order to provide them with 'detailed guidance.' An Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) consultation on the guidance closed at the beginning of this month. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls. Picture: UN | UN But amid ongoing questions over the lack of any new guidance, policies, and legislation following the judgement, Ms Alsalem said it was time for the Scottish Government to 'actually get on with it and do it.' 'There is a lot that can and should be implemented' In an interview with the Sunday Times, the key figure at the UN agency said : 'I do not think we should pause or put on hold any action awaiting this guidance, and I don't think the Supreme Court said that either.' She added: 'While it is good you will have guidance, I do agree with those who say that there is a lot that can and should be implemented. It is not that there is ambiguity about all aspects of what the Supreme Court says.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In calling for the Scottish government to act, Ms Alsalem said: 'If businesses and state-affiliated institutions and government entities recognise that this is the right thing to do, and now this has also been said clearly by the Supreme Court, they actually get on with it and do it.' It goes against 'law of the land' Ms Alsalem also claimed that some organisations had 'punished' those who stood up for their sex-based rights. Referring specifically to Sandie Peggie, the nurse at the centre of an employment tribunal against NHS Fife, she said that public bodies that failed to support a woman's right to single-sex spaces were falling foul of legislation. PA She said of the case: 'Particularly since the Supreme Court ruling, punishing women because they indicate their support for their sex-based right at work seems to me to be very problematic and goes against what is now the law of the land.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Peggie was suspended after complaining about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor. She claims her treatment by the health board was unlawful under the Equalities Act. The tribunal, which began in February, is due to resume later this week. Ms Alsalem also said it was of importance that Police Scotland clarified its approach to data collection and ended its practice of conflating biological sex with gender identity. 'The conflation of sex and gender data, in particular prioritising self-identified gender, erases biological sex records, distorting the male-driven nature of violence against women and girls and hindering root-cause analysis,' she said. 'This approach undermines crime statistics and policy effectiveness in relation to violence against women and girls.' She also backed proposed legislation to criminalise buying sex and said that Scotland should outlaw child marriage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Farcical' delay in implementing ruling For Women Scotland, the gender-critical campaign group which brought a case against the Scottish Government arguing that sex-based protections should only apply to people that are born female, leading to April's Supreme Court judgement, shared Ms Alsalem's remarks on social media, and thanked her for her views. Responding to Ms Alsalem's comments, Tess White, the Scottish Conservative shadow equalities minister, said: 'Almost three months to the day since the verdict, John Swinney is still determined to trample on the safety and rights of women. UN officials have rightly criticised his shameful handling of this and the SNP's farcical delay in implementing the court ruling. 'The Supreme Court was crystal clear, and so was the EHRC's guidance in the wake of it, so there is no excuse for the SNP failing to comply fully with the law now. The SNP government must stop dragging its heels, apologise for their dangerous gender legislation and do the right thing by protecting the rights of women and girls.' It is not the first time Ms Alsalem has intervened in the Scottish Government's stance around gender and sex-based rights. In 2022, she warned that the planned gender recognition reforms brought in by then first minister Nicola Sturgeon posed risks to the safety of women. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Work 'ongoing' around guidance In a damning critique of the legislation, she said the government had not provided for any safeguarding measures so as to ensure that it could not be 'abused by sexual predators and other perpetrators of violence.' A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it had made it 'clear' that it accepted the Supreme Court's findings and that 'detailed work' was 'ongoing' in order to draft guidance.
STV News
04-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
UN expert backs Regan's Bill to criminalise the buying of sex in Scotland
A UN expert has backed Ash Regan's Bill to criminalise the buying of sex in Scotland while decriminalising people selling sexual services. The Alba MSP's 'Unbuyable Bill' won support from the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, on Friday. Ms Alsalem said the proposals put forward by Regan were 'in line' with recommendations she made in a report to the UN Human Rights Council last year. In her opinion, the UN expert said the Bill provides an 'effective framework for ending the exploitation and violence that women are subjected to in prostitution, by discouraging the demand for buying sexual acts and offering exit strategies for the victims'. On Friday, Regan welcomed the support and urged her colleagues in the Scottish Parliament to 'take note' of Ms Alsalem's support, with the UN expert describing the Bill as 'an effective framework for ending the exploitation and violence that women are subjected to in prostitution'. Regan launched the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill in Scottish Parliament last month to criminalise the buying of sex in Scotland while decriminalising the people selling sexual services. The MSP hopes the Bill, which would also quash historic convictions for prostitution and create a statutory right to support for those leaving the trade, will be passed before parliament breaks for next year's Holyrood election. However the Bill has faced criticism from some sectors of the sex-work community, who say it could be 'disastrous' for their safety. The support comes as Scotland's community safety minister, Siobhian Brown, raised concerns on Monday about the potential cost of quashing convictions as part of the legislation. Under Regan's proposals, those convicted of buying sex in Scotland could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in Scotland's Sheriff Courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is currently seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The call for views closes on September 5, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Special Rapporteur Welcomes Landmark UK Judgment On Sex-Based Protections
Press Release – UN Special Procedures – Human Rights The judgment does not change the law but brings much-needed clarity, it also represents the triumph of reason and science in policy making and a return to basic truth and common sense, Alsalem said. GENEVA (2 May 2025) – The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, welcomed the landmark judgment by the UK Supreme Court on 16 April 2025 in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. In its judgment, the Court determined that, for the purposes of the UK's Equality Act 2010, 'sex' is binary, and must be understood as bearing its ordinary meaning as biological sex and that the terms 'woman' and 'man' are to be understood as referring to biological females and males respectively, Alsalem said. The Court also ruled that the Scottish Government is acting unlawfully by treating men who identify as women and who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as women for the purposes of a law aimed at improving the inclusion of women on public boards, the expert noted. 'The judgment does not change the law but brings much-needed clarity, it also represents the triumph of reason and science in policy making and a return to basic truth and common sense,' Alsalem said. 'Most importantly, it vindicates thousands of defenders of women's human rights, including lesbians, and their allies who have been vilified and attacked for asserting the biological reality of sex, the material definitions of 'woman' and 'female', and the centrality of all these issues to their human rights and lived experience,' she said. The Special Rapporteur appreciated the clear way in which the Court explained how the Equality Act resolves tensions between the rights of different stakeholders by providing single-sex exceptions for biological women, in settings where such provisions are legitimate, proportionate and necessary, without negating the right of transgender persons to fair treatment. 'The Court demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of the UK's obligations under international human rights law toward women, and their rights to equality and non-discrimination based on sex,' she said. Alsalem also welcomed announcements by the UK, the Scottish, and Welsh Governments that they will abide by the ruling as well as the timely move by the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish an interim update explaining the implications of the judgement as a forerunner to more comprehensive guidance. Alsalem said she regretted attempts by some actors to wilfully distort the ruling and spread disinformation. She also expressed her concern at the continued, relentless, and alarming attacks on the Court; the women and women's organisations that brought the case, and their supporters. She called on government authorities, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to maximise efforts to protect them against the abuse, violence and threats. The expert said she supported calls for lawful and dignified solutions for everyone, including transgender persons, in implementing the Court's ruling. 'These could include, for instance, adding mixed-sex spaces alongside single-sex ones, but should not entail the removal of single-sex spaces which are vital for the protection of the rights of women and girls,' she said. Alsalem called on all public and private institutions, including employers, healthcare providers, such as the National Health Service and other institutions, such as prisons, to uphold the ruling. She further urged regulators to provide necessary support and guidance to all segments of society to increase understanding of the implications of the ruling and the rights and responsibilities arising from it. She expressed hope that other countries facing similar tensions between rights and/or claims based on sex and gender identity will reflect on the Court's reasoning and draw useful parallels for their own legal and policy contexts.
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Special Rapporteur Welcomes Landmark UK Judgment On Sex-Based Protections
GENEVA (2 May 2025) – The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, welcomed the landmark judgment by the UK Supreme Court on 16 April 2025 in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. In its judgment, the Court determined that, for the purposes of the UK's Equality Act 2010, 'sex' is binary, and must be understood as bearing its ordinary meaning as biological sex and that the terms 'woman' and 'man' are to be understood as referring to biological females and males respectively, Alsalem said. The Court also ruled that the Scottish Government is acting unlawfully by treating men who identify as women and who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as women for the purposes of a law aimed at improving the inclusion of women on public boards, the expert noted. 'The judgment does not change the law but brings much-needed clarity, it also represents the triumph of reason and science in policy making and a return to basic truth and common sense,' Alsalem said. 'Most importantly, it vindicates thousands of defenders of women's human rights, including lesbians, and their allies who have been vilified and attacked for asserting the biological reality of sex, the material definitions of 'woman' and 'female', and the centrality of all these issues to their human rights and lived experience,' she said. The Special Rapporteur appreciated the clear way in which the Court explained how the Equality Act resolves tensions between the rights of different stakeholders by providing single-sex exceptions for biological women, in settings where such provisions are legitimate, proportionate and necessary, without negating the right of transgender persons to fair treatment. 'The Court demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of the UK's obligations under international human rights law toward women, and their rights to equality and non-discrimination based on sex,' she said. Alsalem also welcomed announcements by the UK, the Scottish, and Welsh Governments that they will abide by the ruling as well as the timely move by the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish an interim update explaining the implications of the judgement as a forerunner to more comprehensive guidance. Alsalem said she regretted attempts by some actors to wilfully distort the ruling and spread disinformation. She also expressed her concern at the continued, relentless, and alarming attacks on the Court; the women and women's organisations that brought the case, and their supporters. She called on government authorities, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to maximise efforts to protect them against the abuse, violence and threats. The expert said she supported calls for lawful and dignified solutions for everyone, including transgender persons, in implementing the Court's ruling. 'These could include, for instance, adding mixed-sex spaces alongside single-sex ones, but should not entail the removal of single-sex spaces which are vital for the protection of the rights of women and girls,' she said. Alsalem called on all public and private institutions, including employers, healthcare providers, such as the National Health Service and other institutions, such as prisons, to uphold the ruling. She further urged regulators to provide necessary support and guidance to all segments of society to increase understanding of the implications of the ruling and the rights and responsibilities arising from it. She expressed hope that other countries facing similar tensions between rights and/or claims based on sex and gender identity will reflect on the Court's reasoning and draw useful parallels for their own legal and policy contexts.
Irish Examiner
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Online pornography telling teenage boys inflicting violence and degrading sex acts on girls 'is normal'
The normalisation and widespread availability of online pornography is 'cementing and solidifying' gender stereotypes and violence against women and girls, a UN expert has said. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, told a webinar in Dublin that adolescent boys were being told by pornography that inflicting violence on girls, and degrading them, is 'normal and part of sexual relations'. She said countries should not tolerate a situation where they have laws against gender violence in the offline world, but a 'jungle free-for-all' online. Ms Alsalem also condemned the 'unfolding genocide' against Palestinians which, she said, involved the 'large-scale killing of Palestinian women' in Gaza. She said there were specific international protections for women under the Geneva Convention and other humanitarian laws and said Palestinian women in Gaza were being targeted to limit their 'reproductive capacity' to bear children that are Palestinian. The UN independent consultant said the level at which this was being done was 'unprecedented' in any conflict and was being used as a 'genocidal tool'. Speaking more generally, she told a webinar organised by the Institute of International and European Affairs, she felt the world had entered a worrying period for women and girls. 'I think we are actually in a phase where we seem to be cementing and solidifying gender stereotypes rather than undermining them or fighting them,' she said. 'Some of the most pernicious, sexist stereotypes that fuel violence against women and girls are those that objectify females, that sexualise them, that commodify females, eroticise violence, due to things like normalisation and immense dissemination of pornography and consumption of pornography and attempts to normalise the purchase of sexual acts and buying of women.' Ms Alsalem said a report she published last year put forward the proposition that 'pornography is actually online prostitution' and could be described as 'crime scenes'. She said there was 'no effective' age verification online in terms of what children could access. 'Adolescent boys, even younger boys, access pornography at liberty," she said. It creates views in their head that inflicting violence on girls, sexualising them, subjecting them to degrading and violent and humiliating acts — some of them life-threatening, like strangulation — is normal and part of sexual relations. 'And girls, on the other side, are feeling this tremendously, they are feeling hyper-sexualised, [that] this is a normal part of what society expects of them, to attend to male sexual needs.' She said a comprehensive approach was needed to combat the problem beyond regulation and criminalisation: '[We need a] lot more education, how to talk about gender equality, disseminate sex education [that] focuses more on equal dignified relationship between men and boys and women and girls. "I don't like the word 'toxic masculinity', [but] how to be male in a society that doesn't glorify violence and misogyny.' On trans' rights, she said everyone should be free and have the right to assume a gender identity that is different than what it was at birth. But she argued for the protection of women-only safe spaces, whether in sports, in changing rooms or quotas for political representation. She said while there were 'tensions in human rights', it was 'very clear' protections for women and girls against discrimination was 'based on sex' and that was understood to be biological sex. Read More GP: Women disclosing serious physical injuries due to sexual acts by partners
