Latest news with #ReemAlsalem
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
'Stop letting criminals choose their own gender', UN warns after UK police forces allow 49 rapists to identify as female offenders
The United Nations has warned over letting criminals choose their own gender, after a new report found that 49 rapists were allowed to identify as female offenders in the UK. Reem Alsalem, the UN's special rapporteur for violence against women and girls, said at least a third of UK forces were still collecting data on criminals and victims' self-identified gender rather than their assigned sex at birth. Criticising British institutions, she said that the approach 'neglects women's and girls' specific needs' and increases safety risks, Ms Alsalem said in her interim report, which was published on Friday. Over the last 10 years, 49 convictions for rape have been listed as female, despite the fact the offenders were born male. Ms Alsalem added that the 'lack of legislative clarity on sex hampers data collection on violence against women and girls. 'Police data, while disaggregated by crime and location, often conflates the sex with the gender, for data on victims and perpetrators'. Her remarks come a month after the Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman relates to 'biological sex'. Lord Hodge said that five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that 'the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a 'biological woman and biological sex'. He recognised 'the strength of feeling on both sides' and cautioned against seeing the judgement as a triumph for one side over another, stressing that the law still gives trans people protection against discrimination. In an 88-page ruling, the justices said: 'The definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 makes clear that the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man.' The decision could have far-reaching implications on how sex-based rights apply, including how women-only spaces are allowed to operate. The judgement marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women's group over the definition of a 'woman' in Scottish legislation mandating 50 per cent female representation on public boards. The case centred on whether somebody with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act. In handing down the court's judgement, Lord Hodge said: 'The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological woman and biological sex.' 'In a judgement written by Lady Rose, Lady Simler and myself, with whom Lord Reed and Lord Lloyd-Jones agree, we unanimously allow the appeal,' he added. Lord Hodge said: 'But we counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph for one or more groups in our society at the expense of another. It is not… 'The Equality Act gives transgender people protection not only against discrimination through the protected characteristics of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, and harassment, in substance in their acquired gender.' He recognised the 'strength of feeling on all sides' which lies behind the case, adding: 'On the one hand women, who make up one half of the population, have campaigned for over 150 years to have equality with men and to combat discrimination based on their sex. That work still continues. 'On the other hand, a vulnerable and often harassed minority, the trans community, struggle against discrimination and prejudice as they seek to live their lives with dignity.' The judgement was celebrated by women's rights groups, who cheered outside the court, opened a bottle of champagne and broke into song after the ruling was handed down. But a furious protester shouted 'trans rights are human rights' at those gathered, adding: 'Even if you kill every last one of us another will be born tomorrow.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Don't let trans rapists choose gender, UN warns police
Police forces that allow criminals to pick their own gender are the 'biggest barrier to ending violence against women and girls ', a United Nations report has found. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur for violence against women and girls, said at least a third of British forces were still collecting data on criminals and victims' self-identified gender rather than their sex. It has led to a situation in which 49 convictions for rape had been officially listed as female in the decade to 2023, despite the fact they were biological men and the legal definition of rape as only being able to be carried out by men. She said such an approach 'neglects women's and girls' specific needs' and increases risks to their safety. In the report, Ms Alsalem warned that feminist campaigners had been 'ostracised, attacked and punished' by British political parties, universities and the media for criticising gender ideology. She said the UK risked 'undoing decades of progress made on combating homophobia' by failing to stand up for lesbians who had been 'vilified' for demanding the right to same-sex spaces such as bars and dating apps. And she demanded that Labour ensured its conversion therapy ban did not criminalise doctors and parents who question whether a child needs to change gender. Ms Alsalem's comments, in a report on how the UK fares on the issue of violence against women and girls, come a month after the Supreme Court ruled that sex in the Equality Act means biological sex and not self-declared gender. In March, a review led by Prof Alice Sullivan, of University College, London, urged Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to issue a mandatory order to all 43 English and Welsh police forces, and the British Transport Police, to collect data by sex, but she has not yet done so. In her interim report, published on Friday, Ms Alsalem backed that call for action, writing: 'The lack of legislative clarity on 'sex' hampers data collection on violence against women and girls. 'Police data, while disaggregated by crime and location, often conflates the sex with the gender, for data on victims and perpetrators. The special rapporteur identifies this gap as the biggest barrier to ending VAWG, obscuring trends and intersectional vulnerabilities.' Ms Alsalem said prioritising self-identified gender erased biological sex records, 'distorting the male-driven nature of violence against women and girls' and hindering analysis. She said allowing violent males to log as female offenders 'due to gender identity policies' had led to the situation where there were 49 'female' rape convictions over the decade to 2023 despite the legal definition of rape. 'At least 16 of 46 police forces follow guidance favouring self-identified gender, skewing the very low rate of sexual and gender-based violence crimes committed by females,' she said. 'The conflation of sex and gender related data and the recent elimination of single sex spaces for women undermines crime statistics and VAWG policy effectiveness. 'Sex/gender-blind policies, driven by poor data, neglect women's and girls' specific needs, increasing risks in safety and participation and leading to self-exclusion. This is evident in the erosion of single-sex spaces like prisons and shelters for survivors of violence.' Ms Alsalem called for greater protection for women and girls who do not subscribe to gender ideology. She said: 'Women and girls, as well as their male allies that have wished to reassert their needs and rights based on their sex and that have asserted the immutable nature of sex, have been ostracised, attacked, and punished by state and non-state actors for their beliefs and opinions, including political parties, universities, private employers, the media. 'Several women that lost their jobs because of their views however were vindicated as tribunals confirmed their unfair dismissal or discrimination against them.' She added that lesbians had 'suffered the brunt of this phenomenon' and were 'being vilified by some corners in society on account of their same-sex attraction, which risks undoing decades of progress made on combating homophobia'. She said this was because trans rights activists have said biological men who identify as female can call themselves lesbian, making it harder to ban them from lesbian spaces and dating apps. However, the Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the term 'lesbian' in law refers to a woman who is sexually attracted to other women, and supported their right to a female-only space.
Irish Examiner
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Battling the manosphere takes action
We should not, in the 21st century, still be reading headlines about men mistreating women. Indeed, 'mistreating' is a pale word to describe some of what is reported. Brutalising, perhaps, is better. Degrading is another. Yet, in just the past week we saw MEP Kathleen Funchion's ex-partner jailed for coercive control, and read that violence toward women — including strangulation — is considered 'part of sex' by boys who watch pornography. In the latter case, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, highlighted that girls feel 'hyper-sexualised' and that society feels they should 'attend to male sexual needs'. Any reader who finds themselves agreeing with that sentiment is encouraged to look in the mirror and ask themselves why —though they will not like the answer when it comes to them. There is a reason that, some months ago, an Irish Examiner editorial urging men to do better in dealing with misogyny highlighted the Mary Wollstonecraft quote: 'Men who are inferior to their fellow men are always most anxious to establish their superiority over women.' In Ms Funchion's case, meanwhile, the domineering abuse of Sean Tyrell was so pervasive that, she said, 'I could not sleep or eat, I could not concentrate on anything, work, or even the most basic of tasks', It has had life-long consequences for her. Yet we all know of cases where this sort of abuse — one struggles to think of it simply as 'behaviour' — goes unpunished, perhaps even undocumented. The manosphere — and the grifters, the rage baiters, the Andrew Tates of the world — might sell it almost as an art, a right, but it isn't. The onus is, rightly, on men to change, and an important way to do that is by parents establishing good role models for their sons. On these pages recently, Finian Murphy pointed to how otherwise progressive-leaning 'centrist' fathers need to get out of their comfort zones when it comes to tackling the toxic masculinity which has always been there, but which is more easily accessed than ever by its commodification and almost deification, packaged into a product that's marketed as a must-have for anybody feeling vulnerable. The centrists, he argues, need to demonstrate more through actions rather than just words or being silent in the face of hard subjects, such as those raised by the Netflix show Adolescence. Murphy is right to say that 'a healthier masculinity offers men stronger relationships, with fuller and longer lives'. That healthy masculinity includes, for example, demonstrating through actions that 'real strength lies in compassion, inclusion, emotional intelligence, and the courage to confront injustice'. The examples he cites include Donncha O'Callaghan, Adam Harris, and Blindboy. One could also think of the Pedro Pascals and Viggo Mortensens of the world. Perhaps you could think of more — our inbox at letters@ is always open, and the Irish Examiner is committed to a broad church of opinions. Change begins with a single step. It's time for all of us with children to think about what that first step should be. No country for young artists For a country that prides itself on artistic endeavours — and indeed, punches far above its weight — it is sobering for Cork Opera House CEO Eibhlín M. Gleeson to note that 'a lot of our artists are leaving. There's no work for them here.' The problems include a lack of places to perform, which seems shoddy on the part of this country given that the attendances at art and culture events in recent years have bloomed and are now as high, if not higher, than they were before the advent of covid. Let us not forget that these events don't just bring money to the organisers and performers but the pubs, hotels, and other establishments in the locality. Like with our medical students, we seem to do a great job of training our art students to thrive in different countries, rather than creating a viable way for them to live here. In a world where generative AI is absorbing and then soullessly regurgitating the works of an untold legion of artists, there's an opportunity here to invest a relatively small amount of money that would be repaid manyfold, both financially and socially. Oh the humanity You would be forgiven for thinking that the endless rollout of automation and AI — squashed into apps by companies wherever possible, whether wanted or not — was only going one way. So it may be refreshing to see that coffee giant Starbucks has decided that investing in equipment at the expense of the human touch is not for it. The company, which has been struggling to turn its fortunes around amid competition and reduced consumer spending, is now going to recruit more baristas instead. There is much to be said for deploying technological solutions to real problems: Robots to fight fires in perilous situations; drones to track deforestation; improved medical equipment to treat everything you can think of. You may be reading this on a phone or tablet, as many of our digital subscribers do, and you are welcome to do so. But you may also be reading this on paper, where after the writer and editing staff it's gone through the hands of the printers, the van drivers, the shop staff who've taken your money (still less than the price of a coffee) in a small measure of welcome human interaction. And if we can continue to value that human touch, perhaps we'll stave off Skynet after all. Read More Irish Examiner view: Embattled James Browne faces tough task in righting housing mess
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Special Rapporteur Welcomes Landmark UK Judgment On Sex-Based Protections
Press Release – UN Special Procedures – Human Rights The judgment does not change the law but brings much-needed clarity, it also represents the triumph of reason and science in policy making and a return to basic truth and common sense, Alsalem said. GENEVA (2 May 2025) – The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, welcomed the landmark judgment by the UK Supreme Court on 16 April 2025 in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. In its judgment, the Court determined that, for the purposes of the UK's Equality Act 2010, 'sex' is binary, and must be understood as bearing its ordinary meaning as biological sex and that the terms 'woman' and 'man' are to be understood as referring to biological females and males respectively, Alsalem said. The Court also ruled that the Scottish Government is acting unlawfully by treating men who identify as women and who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as women for the purposes of a law aimed at improving the inclusion of women on public boards, the expert noted. 'The judgment does not change the law but brings much-needed clarity, it also represents the triumph of reason and science in policy making and a return to basic truth and common sense,' Alsalem said. 'Most importantly, it vindicates thousands of defenders of women's human rights, including lesbians, and their allies who have been vilified and attacked for asserting the biological reality of sex, the material definitions of 'woman' and 'female', and the centrality of all these issues to their human rights and lived experience,' she said. The Special Rapporteur appreciated the clear way in which the Court explained how the Equality Act resolves tensions between the rights of different stakeholders by providing single-sex exceptions for biological women, in settings where such provisions are legitimate, proportionate and necessary, without negating the right of transgender persons to fair treatment. 'The Court demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of the UK's obligations under international human rights law toward women, and their rights to equality and non-discrimination based on sex,' she said. Alsalem also welcomed announcements by the UK, the Scottish, and Welsh Governments that they will abide by the ruling as well as the timely move by the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish an interim update explaining the implications of the judgement as a forerunner to more comprehensive guidance. Alsalem said she regretted attempts by some actors to wilfully distort the ruling and spread disinformation. She also expressed her concern at the continued, relentless, and alarming attacks on the Court; the women and women's organisations that brought the case, and their supporters. She called on government authorities, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to maximise efforts to protect them against the abuse, violence and threats. The expert said she supported calls for lawful and dignified solutions for everyone, including transgender persons, in implementing the Court's ruling. 'These could include, for instance, adding mixed-sex spaces alongside single-sex ones, but should not entail the removal of single-sex spaces which are vital for the protection of the rights of women and girls,' she said. Alsalem called on all public and private institutions, including employers, healthcare providers, such as the National Health Service and other institutions, such as prisons, to uphold the ruling. She further urged regulators to provide necessary support and guidance to all segments of society to increase understanding of the implications of the ruling and the rights and responsibilities arising from it. She expressed hope that other countries facing similar tensions between rights and/or claims based on sex and gender identity will reflect on the Court's reasoning and draw useful parallels for their own legal and policy contexts.
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Special Rapporteur Welcomes Landmark UK Judgment On Sex-Based Protections
GENEVA (2 May 2025) – The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, welcomed the landmark judgment by the UK Supreme Court on 16 April 2025 in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. In its judgment, the Court determined that, for the purposes of the UK's Equality Act 2010, 'sex' is binary, and must be understood as bearing its ordinary meaning as biological sex and that the terms 'woman' and 'man' are to be understood as referring to biological females and males respectively, Alsalem said. The Court also ruled that the Scottish Government is acting unlawfully by treating men who identify as women and who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as women for the purposes of a law aimed at improving the inclusion of women on public boards, the expert noted. 'The judgment does not change the law but brings much-needed clarity, it also represents the triumph of reason and science in policy making and a return to basic truth and common sense,' Alsalem said. 'Most importantly, it vindicates thousands of defenders of women's human rights, including lesbians, and their allies who have been vilified and attacked for asserting the biological reality of sex, the material definitions of 'woman' and 'female', and the centrality of all these issues to their human rights and lived experience,' she said. The Special Rapporteur appreciated the clear way in which the Court explained how the Equality Act resolves tensions between the rights of different stakeholders by providing single-sex exceptions for biological women, in settings where such provisions are legitimate, proportionate and necessary, without negating the right of transgender persons to fair treatment. 'The Court demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of the UK's obligations under international human rights law toward women, and their rights to equality and non-discrimination based on sex,' she said. Alsalem also welcomed announcements by the UK, the Scottish, and Welsh Governments that they will abide by the ruling as well as the timely move by the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish an interim update explaining the implications of the judgement as a forerunner to more comprehensive guidance. Alsalem said she regretted attempts by some actors to wilfully distort the ruling and spread disinformation. She also expressed her concern at the continued, relentless, and alarming attacks on the Court; the women and women's organisations that brought the case, and their supporters. She called on government authorities, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to maximise efforts to protect them against the abuse, violence and threats. The expert said she supported calls for lawful and dignified solutions for everyone, including transgender persons, in implementing the Court's ruling. 'These could include, for instance, adding mixed-sex spaces alongside single-sex ones, but should not entail the removal of single-sex spaces which are vital for the protection of the rights of women and girls,' she said. Alsalem called on all public and private institutions, including employers, healthcare providers, such as the National Health Service and other institutions, such as prisons, to uphold the ruling. She further urged regulators to provide necessary support and guidance to all segments of society to increase understanding of the implications of the ruling and the rights and responsibilities arising from it. She expressed hope that other countries facing similar tensions between rights and/or claims based on sex and gender identity will reflect on the Court's reasoning and draw useful parallels for their own legal and policy contexts.
