Mick Hartley

Baroness Falkner, head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commision, has long been a target for trans activists in general, and Stonewall in particular, for her stubborn insistence on the importance of women's rights. She's been accused of bullying and harassment by senior staff, and, it was claimed, took a “determinedly anti-trans stance”. Oh dear.

And she wins again:

Britain’s human rights watchdog has accused “activist” trans rights campaigners of attempting to “unduly influence” its legal independence after successfully resisting an attempt to strip it of its international status.

Stonewall and other LGBTQ+ organisations made a formal complaint against the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last year. They claimed that the commission was “trans-hostile” and “not fit for purpose”, criticising its decision to back new legal protections for biological women.

However, the international body that accredits human rights organisations concluded that the EHRC had fulfilled its obligations and was independent.

Baroness Falkner of Margravine, the chairwoman of the EHRC, said: “We always believed there were inaccuracies in the submissions made against us. I can reassure all those we work with, and the British public we serve, that we take great pride in our independence from government.

“But it is important too, to maintain our independence from activist organisations wishing to unduly influence our legal opinions and policy. We routinely demonstrate our impartiality through our willingness to challenge both robustly.

“We also take seriously our obligation to protect and promote equality and human rights for everyone. That includes considering, carefully and impartially and on the basis of evidence, how the rights of one person, or group, might be affected by the rights of another.

“The role of the referee is not always appreciated, but as the human rights regulator for England and Wales, it is one we accept with steely determination.”’

Well said.

In May last year Stonewall and other LGBTQ+ bodies claimed that the EHRC was “actively harming” trans people. They highlighted the commission’s support of plans by Kemi Badenoch, the women and equalities minister, to introduce legal protections for biological women.

Thereby acknowledging that trans rights are indeed in conflict with women's rights.