UN convention on rights of the child

[SistemaAddict]

I have to do an assignment on this and was pissed off to see gender is used instead of sex. We have yet to discuss this in class but I will be bringing it up. I'm just not sure how to do so diplomatically. I refuse to use the word gender in my assignment too as it is not a protected characteristic.

Has anyone else been in this position and taken a stand?

Have you looked at the CRIA that Women & Girls in Scotland did on the LGBT youth Scotland school guide? It references several aspects of the guide that breaches the UNCRC. See link

Article 2.1:

States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex , language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

Thank you, I'll have a read of that.

It's an issue I take a small stand on every time I come in across it. I've flagged up at work where it's been substituted and change it on forms. If I can't change the form I tick 'prefer not to say'.
I appreciate this puts you in a tricky position, but substituting words from formal documents and legal acts is a misrepresentation. If you feel able to, use the correct terms and if challenged, point out you are simply quoting the UN convention.
Sex and gender are words with different meanings.

I think the easiest thing to do would be to treat it as you would if there were any other factually wrong or inaccurate content and just contact the person in charge and say something like, you've made a mistake here, sex is the protected characteristic relevant to this situation. And be ready with your evidence to back up what you're saying if it is asked for.

Would it be useful to point out the WHO definitions for Gender and Sex? As far as I know they haven't been changed.

www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/knowledge/glossary/en/

Gender

Refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women and men – such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed. The concept of gender includes five important elements: relational, hierarchical, historical, contextual and institutional. While most people are born either male or female, they are taught appropriate norms and behaviours – including how they should interact with others of the same or opposite sex within households, communities and work places. When individuals or groups do not “fit” established gender norms they often face stigma, discriminatory practices or social exclusion – all of which adversely affect health.

Sex

The different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc.

The actual United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) quite clearly uses the term sex. However UNICEF's Implementation Handbook for the UNCRC written by Rachel Hodgkin and her spouse Peter Newell, a prominent British children's right campaigner, changes the word sex to gender in the 3rd and last edition. Sex is now rarely mentioned, gender is the word used. For example on page 123, "Gender may also be a factor, as was raised with Saint Kitts and Nevis:
... It is recommended that the State Party undertake a study to assess the situation of boys within the family environment and their susceptibility to placement in alternative and/ or foster care.”

In this 3rd Edition Hodgkin and Newell also introduce the idea that a child's gender identity should be protected in law in the same way that a child's national or ethnic identity should be protected. For example on Page 115. "Name, nationality and family are only some elements of identity. Other aspects of identity include:...
the, child’s physical appearance, abilities, gender identity and sexual orientation"

www.unicef.org/publications/files/Implementation_Handbook_for_the_Convention_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child.pdf

Peter Newell has since been convicted of and jailed for the historic rape of a child.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5399247/UNICEF-kids-rights-campaigner-jailed-rape-boy-13.html

Health Warning about this lot who have persued a few legal cases such as the gay cake and the BA Check-In worker who wanted to wear a crucifix over her BA scarf.

That said:

archive.christianconcern.com/our-issues/family-and-sexual-ethics/the-abusers-behind-the-idea-that-children-have-a-gender-identity