UN Expert Urges UK Leaders to Implement Supreme Court’s Women’s Rights Ruling, Calls for Respect for Rule of Law
A United Nations independent human rights expert has called on political leaders across the United Kingdom to fully implement the UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on the legal definition of “sex”, urging governments and public institutions to uphold the judgment and avoid undermining protections for women and girls. The appeal comes amid continuing political debate over revised equality guidance issued following the court’s decision.
The statement was issued by Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. She expressed concern over public criticism directed at the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft Code of Practice, which seeks to guide employers, service providers and public authorities on implementing the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Equality Act 2010. Alsalem clarified that Special Rapporteurs act independently and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations as an institution.
The guidance follows the UK Supreme Court’s April 2025 judgment, which held that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the statutory term “sex” refers to biological sex. The ruling has significant implications for the operation of single-sex spaces and services, including changing rooms, hospitals, prisons and certain sporting and support facilities, where the law permits provision based on biological sex.
Alsalem argued that opposition to the EHRC’s draft guidance risks weakening legal protections designed to safeguard women’s privacy, dignity and safety. She stated that it is difficult to reconcile resistance to lawful single-sex services with commitments to combat violence against women and girls. She also defended provisions allowing proportionate inquiries about a person’s sex where necessary to ensure compliance with legal obligations governing single-sex services.
Calling for political clarity, the UN expert urged the UK Government, the devolved administrations, political parties, businesses, media organisations and civil society to work constructively towards implementing the Supreme Court’s judgment in accordance with domestic law and the UK’s international human rights obligations. She stressed that respecting final judicial decisions is essential to maintaining the rule of law and ensuring legal certainty.
The issue remains politically contentious within the UK, with supporters of the judgment describing it as a necessary clarification of the law relating to women’s rights, while critics have raised concerns about its implications for transgender people and broader equality protections. As consultations on the EHRC’s Code of Practice continue, the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to remain at the centre of legal and public policy debate.
