SCECLB277 Individual

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio | Reform Bill Committee

Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol)| Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

Ymateb gan Unigolyn | Evidence from Individual

What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective (to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population)?

This fails to address sex, not gender, which is a protected characteristic of the Equality Act. WG acting outside UK legislation will not make this a more equitable Senedd, it will make it a place, where the focus will be on the illegal nature of this act as this is not a devolved matter, rather than looking to the root causes of why women do not get involved in politics. This should be done in consultation with women by women, in all communities and a real effort need to be made to speak to the women of Wales rather than assuming that you know what they want or speaking to the loudest and most obvious voices first

What are your views on the system of enforcement and potential sanctions for non-compliance proposed in the Bill?

The conflation of the protected characteristics is how "gender Self ID" is being pushed through in Wales. In this Bill the positions being set aside for women are open to anyone who says they are a woman - all you have to do is make a gender statement as to whether you are "a woman" or "not a woman". This is not about having a GRC (Gender Reassignment Certificate) which is one of the protected characteristics.

How do you propose to enforce against something that is not in legislation? Sex based protections are enshrined in the Equality Act and this is the Act that should be promoted. Why is it that only women rights are diminished in this with the bizarre suggestion that if you decide you are a woman, that is it, but a person can not self identify as a male. It is not a binary choice, which is should be for sex based rights.

Which groups did you consult with when drafting up this bizarre idea, which communities did you ask or was this drawn up by a lobbying group who seek to sideline women?

Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

Yes- WG does not have the legislative power to override the Equalities Act

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

Yes- instead of getting more women into politics, its will drive them out. It will attract individuals who will self identify as women an take their spot, dominate the conversation and the agenda and women who are already under served by WG will be pushed out of the picture again.

You only have to look to women sport to see how self identification has denied women medals and records and has focused the attention on males, putting women progress back decades.

Women, biological women will be at a significant disadvantage. Where are men stepping aside and allowing for the balance to redressed.

What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

It clearly hasn't been understood how this will end up with fewer womens voices and this will impact women earning power and the empathy for women through all ages of the the lives which can not be done by a proxy. This is a backwards step of "men know best" for women. Less policy areas affecting women will be implemented and this will have huge implications in all areas of life for women.

What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

This proposal is still based on gender which is a social construct and not sex based rights , which is the basis of the Equality Act- this piece of legislation is not broken and is not in your gift to change.

Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights?

Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation, or to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill?

It will be unconstitutional to bring self identification in as a means to undermine the UK government and protection set out for women and girls in this manner- in fact it is heinous to suggest that this is about protecting women, when it is about promoting men