UN says Nicola Sturgeon’s gender reforms could ‘open door for violent males’ to abuse women

The United Nations has criticised Nicola Sturgeon over her gender reform plans for teenagers – saying they could put the safety of women at risk.

Reem Alsalem, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said the proposals could “open the door for violent males who identify as men to abuse the process”.

In a letter to James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, she said the Scottish government’s plans lacked “clarity” on how people applying to change gender would be checked.

And she added: “Simplifying and fast-tracking the procedure does not necessarily make it fairer or more efficient.”

Ms Alsalem said she was concerned that violent men could abuse the self-identification process, putting at risk the safety of women.

“I share the concern that such proposals would potentially open the door for violent males who identify as men to abuse the process of acquiring a gender certificate and the rights that are associated with it,” she wrote.

“This presents potential risks to the safety of women in all their diversity (including women born female, transwomen, and gender non-conforming women).”

Level of scrutiny not laid out

Ms Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Recognition Bill would allow children as young as 16 to apply to change their gender without medical checks.

The legislation also slashes the amount of time an individual has to live in their “acquired gender” from two years to three months before they receive a Gender Recognition Certificate. An additional three-month “reflection” period is also mandatory for all applicants.

Campaigners worry this could mean biological males joining all-girl sixth forms and Scottish biologically male prisoners moving into female prisons.

It is understood that Kemi Badenoch, the Equality Minister, has concerns about Ms Sturgeon’s proposed approach.

In her letter, Ms Alsalem wrote that there was “insufficient clarity in the proposed self-identification procedure”.

“Currently, the Scottish government does not spell out how the government will ensure a level of scrutiny for the applications made to acquire a gender recognition certificate under the new proposal,” she said.

Story continues

“It is not unreasonable to expect the government to spell out what level of scrutiny will continue in the procedure, or detail important aspects of it, including the specific steps the procedure entails and the conditions for refusing such…