A United Nations expert has warned that opposition among British lawmakers to guidance protecting single-sex spaces could endanger women’s safety. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recently issued a code of practice stating that transgender women—defined as individuals who are biologically male—should not be permitted to use female-only restrooms. This guidance is set to become official on August 5.
Rem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, emphasised the importance of the EHRC guidance in safeguarding women from male violence. She described the resistance from some political figures as “disappointing,” highlighting the difficulty in reconciling such opposition with commitments to ending violence against women and girls. Alsalem urged the British government and devolved authorities to clearly affirm that the law requires compliance with the code.
Despite the imminent enforcement of the new regulations, many public bodies and businesses have yet to implement the code. Alsalem noted that the public debate around the guidance revealed how tenuous women’s rights protections remain, particularly concerning safety, privacy, and dignity within single-sex services.
The controversy intensified after Labour MP Nadia Whittome led an early day motion signed by 166 MPs calling for the disapproval of the draft code. The motion urged ministers to revoke the guidance, arguing it risks the rights of transgender people. However, the number of signatures fell short of a majority, and Education Secretary and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson proceeded to lay the code before Parliament, making it official.
Critics of the EHRC guidance have expressed concerns it could lead to intrusive monitoring of individuals using gender-segregated facilities. Rachel Taylor, another Labour MP who supported the disapproval motion, warned that the government’s own impact assessment acknowledged an increased risk of harassment, violence, and sexual abuse against transgender people under the new rules.
Addressing these concerns, Alsalem stated that it is acceptable for individuals to be questioned about their biological sex when using restrooms to ensure compliance with the law. She described such inquiries as proportionate and lawful safeguards necessary for protecting women.
Maya Forstater, director of the women’s rights group Sex Matters, criticised the ongoing resistance to the guidance and called on organisations to adhere strictly to the EHRC code. She argued that women’s rights have long been overlooked and that the current guidance is essential to restore these protections.
The debate reflects broader tensions between safeguarding the rights and safety of women and girls and addressing the concerns of transgender rights advocates, illustrating a complex and evolving policy landscape in the United Kingdom.