UK urged to uphold Supreme Court ruling on sex definition

A United Nations independent human rights expert has called on political leaders in the United Kingdom to fully implement a recent Supreme Court ruling that clarifies the legal definition of “sex.” The expert emphasized that the court’s decision, which affirms that “sex” under the Equality Act refers to biological sex rather than gender identity, should be reflected in the government’s updated equality guidance and related legislation.

The expert warned that any opposition to the guidance could undermine existing protections for women and girls, potentially eroding legal safeguards against discrimination. By urging swift adoption of the ruling’s interpretation, the UN representative highlighted the importance of maintaining robust equality standards while ensuring that policy changes do not compromise the rights of those the law is intended to protect.