Category: Statements

Posted on

Merched Cymru responds to the Cass Report

We welcome the release today of the final report of the independent review of gender identity services for children and young people, commissioned by NHS England and chaired by Dr Hilary Cass. It is a very substantial piece of work, four years in the making, and we’ll respond more fully to its research and recommendations in due course. While some of the findings were anticipated, it is nevertheless shocking to see the facts in print. Continue reading “Merched Cymru responds to the Cass Report”

Posted on

Mixed sex toilets in Wales’ schools – breaking the law

New and refurbished school buildings across Wales are imposing mixed sex toilet facilities on children. These toilets are not compliant with the law, and present considerable problems, particularly for girls.

Merched Cymru’s research shows that 15% of Welsh secondary schools surveyed have only mixed sex toilet provision, with many more having some or most of their provision in mixed sex blocks with shared handwashing facilities, which are not compliant with the regulations. Continue reading “Mixed sex toilets in Wales’ schools – breaking the law”

Posted on

Questions for Labour leadership candidates from grassroots women’s and LGB organisations in Wales

Together with our friends in WRN Wales, LGB Alliance Cymru, WomenZone and the Gay Men’s Network, we wrote the following letter to Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles.

As groups that have been excluded from the development of policies and action plans that affect us, we wanted to know if a new Welsh Labour leader and First Minister would signal a change in approach.

We believe that these questions are critical to understanding the willingness of both candidates to listen to viewpoints from beyond the usual organisations that are called on to contribute to policy. For our supporters who are Welsh Labour Party members, this could be a deciding factor in who they choose to vote for. Continue reading “Questions for Labour leadership candidates from grassroots women’s and LGB organisations in Wales”

Posted on

Merched Cymru’s letter to The Observer on ‘Gender Questioning Children’

Merched Cymru has sent the following letter to the Observer in response to this article on the UK’s recently published draft guidance entitled ‘Gender Questioning Children.’

We welcome the long-awaited guidance for English schools on how to support children who are questioning their gender.

In Wales we are still waiting for guidance from the Welsh government, announced in the Welsh Government’s LGBTQ+ action plan and initially promised for the summer term. Meanwhile schools are left without direction in this highly contested area, with many still following guidance toolkits which misrepresent equality law.

While the new draft for England is not perfect, it marks a significant step forward and it is encouraging to see a clearly stated commitment to safeguarding principles and a recognition of the rights of other pupils. We hope that the Welsh guidance will take a similar approach.

Posted on

Joint statement by Merched Cymru and Women’s Rights Network Wales in response to statement by Welsh Women’s Aid

We are dismayed by the statement issued by Welsh Women’s Aid on 5 th October in response to unspecified comments by UK Government Ministers. Welsh Women’s Aid was established in 1978 with a specific focus on supporting local Women’s Aid Groups delivering single-sex services to
women experiencing domestic abuse and give those women a voice within the policy and law-making process.

It was set up by women, for women. It acknowledged that those services had to be exclusive of men, male adults, to allow vulnerable women and their children to break free from male violence and abuse and heal their trauma. Women’s Aid offered women a place of safety and sisterly support. This has worked for decades and has a strong evidence base. The unique value of single-sex services is recognised by domestic abuse survivors themselves, practitioners and by experts including the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem. Continue reading “Joint statement by Merched Cymru and Women’s Rights Network Wales in response to statement by Welsh Women’s Aid”