What’s Current: Scottish gender identity law delayed to allow for full consultation

  • A new law allowing trans-identified people to more easily self-identify as the opposite sex in Scotland has been delayed to allow for a full consultation. Equalities minister Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“It is clear that not all the concerns raised over the past year relate to the specifics of the proposals to reform the GRA. Instead they are about wider societal and policy issues connected to sex and gender. We recognise that unless we build a strong foundation of clear policy and guidance then many concerns, particularly from some women, will not be allayed while at the same time trans rights may not be upheld.”

  • Pakistan will set up over 1,000 courts dedicated to confronting violence against women in response to a 2019 World Report that found “violence against women and girls — including rape, so-called honor killings, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage ⁠— remains a serious problem.”
  • Two women from Vancouver who exited the sex industry are suing a police officer who sexually assaulted them during his investigation of the man who trafficked them.
  • Sudanese women are seeking justice following mass rapes at a protest camp in Khartoum perpetrated by men in paramilitary groups. Nahid Jabrallah, founder of the Sima Centre for Women and Children’s Studies said interview with France24:

“There are many testimonies and eye witnesses of sexual violence, including gang rapes. But it’s very difficult to reach people, victims feel insecure and traumatised. We need help from the international community.”

Genevieve Gluck

Genevieve Gluck is a writer and advocate for women's sex-based rights and creator of Women's Voices, an audio library dedicated to bringing awareness to feminist texts and speeches.