Latest news with #EqualityCommission
Belfast Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
TUV asks Equality Commission to rethink ‘neutral' Irish language signs stance after poll results
The TUV has written to the Equality Commission expressing 'deep concern' about Irish language signs in public spaces following an opinion poll showing unionist unease with the signage.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands attend trans rights rally in Belfast city centre
Thousands of people have attended a trans rights rally in Belfast city centre. The March for Trans Rights was held on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Organisers said the recent Supreme Court decision to legally define a woman by biological sex at birth for the purposes of the Equality Act was a huge attack on trans rights. The ruling has major implications for single-sex spaces in Great Britain, such as female changing rooms and toilets. The court had been asked to decide on the proper interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which applies across Great Britain but not in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's Equality Commission has said it hopes to publish new formal guidance in June in response to the ruling. The commission said it would "advise all employers and service providers, including councils, to review any policies that the Supreme Court judgment may impact on". In recent days, Education Minister Paul Givan said he has asked officials to ensure his department is complying with the ruling. Alexa Moore, the policy, campaigns and communications manager at the Rainbow Project, said trans people have seen a "regression in our rights" across the UK and Northern Ireland. "We've seen with the puberty blocker ban that was instituted last year and now with the recent Supreme Court judgement on the definition of sex and the Equality Act," she told BBC News NI. "It's really an attempt in Northern Ireland to roll back rights and protections for trans communities and that's why people are out on the streets today." She added that the event saw "countless women's organisations and women just generally from the community out in support of trans people". "We're very clear, trans rights and women's rights are not in opposition, they are linked and you can't have one without the other." Autumn Hendrix said that trans people paved the way for him to live as a bisexual man. "It's just so important that we stand up for them." Tanya De Boer, who attended the event with her family, said the more people who are not trans stand up for this cause "the better, because they are a minority". She said she brought her kids to show them that "everybody deserves equal rights". "Individuals that don't identify with their assigned sex at birth should get to live a happy, healthy, inclusive, free life and restricting that is wrong," she added. "We want to be here to speak up for those people." A separate anti-LGBT rally took place outside Belfast City Hall at the same time. A few hundred gathered behind the main stage of the trans rally. Police kept both protests segregated. Belfast Pride latest to ban political parties from parade Protests held as puberty blocker ban extended to NI
ITV News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Michelle O'Neill warns against ‘knee-jerk' reactions to Supreme Court ruling on gender
First Minister Michelle O'Neill has warned against 'knee jerk' reactions to the Supreme Court ruling on gender, as she called for a uniform response across the Stormont Executive. She was commenting after DUP Education Minister Paul Givan instructed his officials to ensure that all Northern Ireland schools comply with the landmark ruling. The Sinn Féin vice president said it was 'unfortunate' that move had come ahead of ministers receiving guidance on the court decision from the Northern Ireland Equality Commission. Ms O'Neill said it was important ministers acted in a 'uniform' way when responding to the ruling. 'I absolutely do believe that we need to be uniform and across the board,' she said. 'Let's make it understandable for everybody. 'The Supreme Court has made its ruling. It's now for the Equality Commission to provide us with guidance as to what that means for us on a day-to-day basis, and across all of our departments and all of our public services. 'So, I would ask people to stop knee-jerking, and I would ask people to await the Equality Commission guidance, and then let's have a uniform approach. 'I think it's unfortunate that others have taken a different approach on this to this point. 'But you know, this is about compassion. This is about people out there in society who are fearful for their own safety. 'So, let's be a bit compassionate for people. Let's actually take our time, don't knee-jerk to this, and actually understand the ruling and what it means for us here.' The Supreme Court found that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Northern Ireland is governed by its own equality laws, and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act do not apply in the region. The Supreme Court ruling is nevertheless expected to influence public policy decisions in Northern Ireland. The Equality Commission is preparing guidance on the ruling's potential implications on Stormont departments. Education Minister Paul Givan said individual departments had to comply with their own legal obligations. 'Each minister and every department and indeed public organisation is under their own individual responsibility to ensure that they're complying with the law,' the DUP minister said. 'The UK Supreme Court has now made it clear what the law is when it comes to sex, and it's biological sex based upon male and female. 'So, I'm not going to wait for the Equality Commission, who can provide advice, but it's for those who are responsible to take decisions, and therefore I will be taking decisions around this, and then that will need to be reflected in the guidance that operates within our education system. 'I think it's incumbent on all ministers to reflect the outworkings of the UK Supreme Court, and that's what I'm going to do.' The Deputy First Minister said the ruling would have 'significant tangential impacts' in Northern Ireland. Emma Little-Pengelly also said it was for individual departments to obtain their own advice. 'The Equality Commission, or any of these bodies, they are advisory, they're there to give some guidance, but that doesn't stop departments or agencies or bodies either from seeking their own advice and obtaining that advice but, of course, they also have those individual responsibilities under what the law is,' the DUP minister said. 'So of course this is an urgent matter, and I have no doubt that organisations will be taking their own advice on this.' She added: 'It's important that our public bodies do follow what the law is on this. 'I do feel very strongly that there needs to be those safe spaces for women. It is there for a good reason. 'Women can be very vulnerable in particular situations. 'Women have had their own personal experiences and will want, of course, to have those safe spaces and women-only spaces. 'I think that's absolutely right. I think that's common sense and I think that's what the Supreme Court very clearly set out. 'So, of course, the departments and bodies and organisations should follow that. 'It does apply, of course, wider than just in relation to the Equality Act of 2010 and, of course, I have no doubt that we will see much more discussion and debate about this in due course over the next number of weeks.'
Belfast Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
First Minister says it's ‘unfortunate' after Education Minister moves on Supreme Court gender ruling ahead of rest of Executive
Stormont's First Minister also warned there should be 'no knee jerk reaction' to the decision of the highest court in the UK that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Ms O'Neill's response comes after Education Minister Paul Givan said he had already instructed his officials to ensure that all schools comply with the law ahead of guidance expected from the Equality Commission on the issue – a move she described as "unfortunate". The Sinn Fein vice president and the DUP MLA were both at the official sod-cutting for the £375m Strule Shared Education Campus today along with Deputy First Minster Emma Little-Pengelly. Although Northern Ireland is governed by its own equality laws, and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act do not apply in the region, Mr Givan has already moved ahead with plans to provide 'absolute clarity' in educational settings, saying that boys who identify as girls should not participate in girls sports, not use girls changing or toilet facilities. 'I absolutely do believe that we need to be uniform and across the board,' Ms O'Neill said. 'The Supreme Court has made its ruling. It's now for the Equality Commission to provide us with guidance as to what that means for us on a day-to-day basis, and across all of our departments and all of our public services. 'I would ask people to stop knee-jerking, and I would ask people to await the Equality Commission guidance, and then let's have a uniform approach. 'I think it's unfortunate that others have taken a different approach on this to this point. 'This is about compassion. This is about people out there in society who are fearful for their own safety. 'Let's be a bit compassionate for people. Let's actually take our time, don't knee-jerk to this, and actually understand the ruling and what it means for us here.' Ms O'Neill said it was 'unfortunate' that the Education Minister had taken a decision ahead of ministers receiving guidance on the court decision from the Northern Ireland Equality Commission. But Mr Givan remained resolute in his decision. 'Each minister and every department and indeed public organisation is under their own individual responsibility to ensure that they're complying with the law,' he said. 'The UK Supreme Court has now made it clear what the law is when it comes to sex, and it's biological sex based upon male and female. 'So, I'm not going to wait for the Equality Commission, who can provide advice, but it's for those who are responsible to take decisions. I will be taking decisions around this, and then that will need to be reflected in the guidance that operates within our education system. 'I think it's incumbent on all ministers to reflect the outworkings of the UK Supreme Court, and that's what I'm going to do.' Ms Little-Pengelly backed the Education Minister, saying it was 'for individual departments to obtain their own advice'. 'The Equality Commission, or any of these bodies, they are advisory, they're there to give some guidance, but that doesn't stop departments or agencies or bodies either from seeking their own advice and obtaining that advice but, of course, they also have those individual responsibilities under what the law is,' she said. 'So of course this is an urgent matter, and I have no doubt that organisations will be taking their own advice on this. 'It's important that our public bodies do follow what the law is on this. 'I do feel very strongly that there needs to be those safe spaces for women. Women can be very vulnerable in particular situations. 'Women have had their own personal experiences and will want, of course, to have those safe spaces and women-only spaces. 'I think that's absolutely right. I think that's common sense and I think that's what the Supreme Court very clearly set out. 'So, of course, the departments and bodies and organisations should follow that. 'I have no doubt that we will see much more discussion and debate about this over the next number of weeks.' Ms O'Neill was also asked about the protests by some camogie players against the enforced wearing of skorts during matches. 'I won't be getting involved in telling the governing body what they should and shouldn't do, but I do believe girls and young women should have their choice respected,' she said, echoing a call from SDLP MLA Cara Hunter earlier this week. Ms Hunter backed the protesting players, saying: 'Women should have the choice to wear what makes them feel most comfortable, particularly when competing in sports. 'We want to see more women and girls celebrated in sport, allowing this decision is a part of that. 'They've been very vocal that they want change and our players should be supported.'
Belfast Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
O'Neill warns against ‘knee-jerk' reactions to Supreme Court ruling on gender
Michelle O'Neill was commenting after DUP Education Minister Paul Givan instructed his officials to ensure that all schools in the region comply with the landmark ruling. Sinn Fein vice president Ms O'Neill said it was 'unfortunate' that move had come ahead of ministers receiving guidance on the court decision from the Northern Ireland Equality Commission. The Supreme Court found that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Northern Ireland is governed by its own equality laws, and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act do not apply in the region. The Supreme Court ruling is nevertheless expected to influence public policy decisions in Northern Ireland. The Equality Commission is preparing guidance on the ruling's potential implications on Stormont departments. Mr Givan has said he does not intend to wait for the commission's guidance, which is not binding on departments, and instead intends to take decisions to offer 'absolute clarity' in the education sector in relation to issues such as single-sex spaces and sporting participation. He has made clear he is opposed to boys who identify as girls taking part in girls' sports or using girls' changing or toilet facilities. Ms O'Neill said it was important ministers acted in a 'uniform' way when responding to the ruling. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. 'I absolutely do believe that we need to be uniform and across the board,' she told reporters on a visit to the site of the new Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh. 'Let's make it understandable for everybody. 'The Supreme Court has made its ruling. It's now for the Equality Commission to provide us with guidance as to what that means for us on a day-to-day basis, and across all of our departments and all of our public services. 'So, I would ask people to stop knee-jerking, and I would ask people to await the Equality Commission guidance, and then let's have a uniform approach. 'I think it's unfortunate that others have taken a different approach on this to this point. 'But you know, this is about compassion. This is about people out there in society who are fearful for their own safety. 'So, let's be a bit compassionate for people. Let's actually take our time, don't knee-jerk to this, and actually understand the ruling and what it means for us here.' Ms O'Neill was attending the sod-cutting event in Omagh with Mr Givan and his DUP colleague and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Asked about the same issue, Mr Givan said individual departments had to comply with their own legal obligations. 'Each minister and every department and indeed public organisation is under their own individual responsibility to ensure that they're complying with the law,' he said. 'The UK Supreme Court has now made it clear what the law is when it comes to sex, and it's biological sex based upon male and female. 'So, I'm not going to wait for the Equality Commission, who can provide advice, but it's for those who are responsible to take decisions, and therefore I will be taking decisions around this, and then that will need to be reflected in the guidance that operates within our education system. 'I think it's incumbent on all ministers to reflect the outworkings of the UK Supreme Court, and that's what I'm going to do.' Ms Little-Pengelly said the ruling would have 'significant tangential impacts' in Northern Ireland. She also said it was for individual departments to obtain their own advice. 'The Equality Commission, or any of these bodies, they are advisory, they're there to give some guidance, but that doesn't stop departments or agencies or bodies either from seeking their own advice and obtaining that advice but, of course, they also have those individual responsibilities under what the law is,' she said. 'So of course this is an urgent matter, and I have no doubt that organisations will be taking their own advice on this.' She added: 'It's important that our public bodies do follow what the law is on this. 'I do feel very strongly that there needs to be those safe spaces for women. It is there for a good reason. 'Women can be very vulnerable in particular situations. 'Women have had their own personal experiences and will want, of course, to have those safe spaces and women-only spaces. 'I think that's absolutely right. I think that's common sense and I think that's what the Supreme Court very clearly set out. 'So, of course, the departments and bodies and organisations should follow that. 'It does apply, of course, wider than just in relation to the Equality Act of 2010 and, of course, I have no doubt that we will see much more discussion and debate about this in due course over the next number of weeks.'
