EHRC's strategy - relevance to sex & gender

[ArabellaScott]

New Strategy from EHRC. I've pulled out relevant sections for women:

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/our-strategy/strategic-plan-2025-2028

'Programme 1: Tackling harassment, discrimination and victimisation in the uniformed services
Racial and sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation remain entrenched in the workplaces of the fire and police services and the armed forces, despite previous critical reports. We will improve data, work with other regulators, conduct Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) implementation pilots and monitor compliance. '

'c) Increase transparency around pay gaps. We will interrogate suspect data and follow up on non-reporting of data. We will evidence the influence of pay gap reporting on narrowing pay gaps and build an understanding of effective approaches.
We will also deliver a planned programme of specific enforcement of the Gender Pay Gap Information Regulations, Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations and breaches of the Equality Act 2010. We will continue to act as a prescribed body for whistleblowing in relation to equality and human rights. We will deliver a targeted package of activity around the sexual harassment preventative duty following changes to the law made by the Worker Protection Act 2023.'

'Programme 2: Clarifying the law and supporting effective responses to balance of rights, including freedom of expression

Human rights reflect and protect the dignity of all. This lays the foundations for our society, built on the values of equality, liberty and the rule of law. In recent years, there have been social tensions and disputes around issues that engage the rights of multiple groups, such as the introduction of safe access zones around abortion clinics. We will play an authoritative, impartial role in clarifying the law and in advising how to shape the law in a way that respects everyone’s rights.
Where tensions between different groups in society are heightened, we will increase national and local governments and PSED duty bearers’ understanding of how best to respond. We will select a small number of issues on which to focus, such as freedom of expression and the interaction between the protected characteristics of sex and gender reassignment. Through this programme, we will foster wider respect for, and enjoyment of, human rights.'

Place marking.

Thank you @ArabellaScott you are one of the names I always sit up and take note of your posts.

Thanks Arabella. It'll be interesting to see how they deal with the tsunami of mixed sex illegal policies currently being exposed in the NHS.

Can't ever quite work out EHRC. Can be very decisive and proactive on some issues (McDonald's sexual harassment), yet apparently unable to act at all on others (would we have so many JRs if they'd acted on many instances of discrimination in public bodies?).

Me too. I sent them the dossier last Friday and am yet to have a response. To be fair, there’s a lot to go through!

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

They may have to change the terminology but the sex pay gap has unfortunate connotations?!

I’d like to see isolated gender pay gap figures for TW in professional jobs. My working hypothesis would be that in recent years they’d have benefited from a positive boost due to womanly status. Probably quite different from females. But I’m now very suspicious about everything so please excuse my paranoia.

I wonder how they can disaggregate the trans data? There are so many autists and those who are disabled in their figures, it obscures what’s happening in the employed group.

I know what you mean. Internal power struggle, is my guess.

This seems good news. There has been a vacuum of leadership about the practical application of equalities law which the TA lobby has filled, to everyone's detriment.

That's excellent. They've written to NHS Fife haven't they so presumably they'll be keen to challenge the others?

Very impressive work, thank you for organising it.

I recall the EHC were at one stage very much in the grip of transactivists with the usual elevation of trans issues as being at the top of their concerns. But they've been dragged back kicking and screaming to a more neutral position by Kishwer Falkner

*They may have to change the terminology but the sex pay gap has unfortunate connotations?!

I’d like to see isolated gender pay gap figures for TW in professional jobs. My working hypothesis would be that in recent years they’d have benefited from a positive boost due to womanly status. Probably quite different from females. But I’m now very suspicious about everything so please excuse my paranoia.*

The love for snappy sound bites doesn't help. Call it the pay gap between the sexes and its absolutely clear.

Thanks @ArabellaScottreally helpful. I’m mindful that KF is due to leave her post at the end of this year and am worried about who is next in line. The last thing we need is another TA.