“As advocates for people seeking safety, we are acutely aware that marginalised groups are under attack today from hostile policies”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY UNSPLASH
On Monday (30 June), over 40 migrant sector organisations released a joint statement, calling on the government to protect trans people’s rights. Signatories included organisations like Rainbow Migration, Asylum Matters and Refugee Council.
This joint statement has followed a number of concerning threats to trans people’s safety in the UK, catalysed by the UK Supreme Court ruling earlier this year about the definition of the term “woman”. Since then, there have been worries that trans’ people’s rights will be eroded in legislation.
In particular, this joint statement warns that the recent Supreme Court ruling, and the EHRC’s draft response to it, “could have widespread and harmful implications on how service providers treat trans, intersex and non-binary people”.
Earlier this year, the UK dropped to 22nd on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, an annual ranking of European countries by their commitment to supporting LGBTQIA rights. Falling by six places, the UK is second only to Hungary and Georgia for the biggest drop in ranking.
Leila Zadeh, Executive Director at Rainbow Migration said: “Trans people that we support have expressed a lot of anxiety over what the Supreme Court judgement will mean for them. Trans, intersex and non-binary people seeking asylum already face unsafe accommodation, barriers to gender-affirming healthcare and limited mental health support. If the updated Code of Practice is trans-exclusionary, it will only deepen these harms and further restrict access to safety and support. We urge the government to protect trans people. ”
Nathan Philips, Head of Campaigns at Asylum Matters, added: “As advocates for people seeking safety, we are acutely aware that marginalised groups are under attack today from hostile policies, rhetoric and narratives that serve only to divide our communities.
“We stand in solidarity with trans, non-binary and intersex people whose rights are being threatened, and call on Government to resist the scapegoating of any minoritised groups and protect human rights.”
These organisations have asked that the government “ensure the updated Code protects trans people’s human rights and helps ensure their inclusion” and “ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of trans people”.
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