The United Nations’ expert for women and girls has said organisations “punished” those who stand up for sex-based rights.
Reem Alsalem said public bodies that do not support women’s right to single-sex spaces are going “against what is now the law of the land”, in reference to Sandie Peggie, the nurse at the centre of an employment tribunal against NHS Fife.
Ms Alsalem, who has been re-appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur for Women and Girls, urged the Scottish government to speed up the release of its guidance following the recent Supreme Court judgment that “sex” in equality law refers to biological sex and not gender identity.
“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,” she said.
Guidance clarifying how the Supreme Court judgment is to be implemented in practice is expected from the Scottish government, but no publication date has been given.
It said that it was waiting for advice from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. Consultation on the guidance closed on July 1.
Ms Alsalem 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.
“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.”
Extracts from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/13/reem-alsalem-women-standing-up-for-rights-punished/ and at https://archive.is/K3McE