twitter link twitter.com/Scottish_Women/status/1036973275862196225
Extract:
to summarise the main points that I raised at our meeting, I have asked the Scottish Government to please take action on the following
1/ The tackling of sexual harassment and sexual crimes that disproportionately affect our girls whilst at school, with the creation of specific policies and guidance being a clear priority. The existing Respect for All: Anti-bullying National Approach fails to explicitly address these issues, therefore will also fail to sufficiently record and monitor them.
2/ Urgent research needs to be carried out regarding the recent phenomenon of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria, which disproportionately affects girls as seen by the 1000%+ increase in referrals to Gender Identity Clinics in recent years.
3/ Review all guidance currently issued to schools from both the Scottish Government and Government funded groups. Their contents are not balanced and fail to offer protection to all vulnerable and oppressed children, in particular girls.* It is crucial that the Protected Characteristic Sex within the Equality Act 2010 is applied accurately, as our girls rely on this to protect them from harassment, discrimination and victimisation.
4/ Following on from point 3, there are a growing number of Public Bodies in Scotland who are incorrectly reinterpreting the Protected Characteristic Sex and applying a definition not stated within the Act. Girls and young women are therefore not being given the protection they urgently need. It is crucial that Equality Impact Assessments are applied to all decisions taken, as per their Public Sector Equality Duty. Will the Scottish Government remind and instruct all public authorities in Scotland of their requirement under the Equality Act 2010 to always apply and use the correct definition of the protected characteristic Sex.
(* Luckily I just happened to have with me an extra copy of the Transgender Trend school resource pack, which is very fair and balanced for all children, so was able to provide the Cabinet Secretary with her very own copy to keep.)" (continues)
scottish-women.com/2018/09/04/meeting-with-the-cabinet-secretary/