Question reference: S6W-27794
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
- Date lodged: 31 May 2024
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Current status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 6 June 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services, and, in particular, the views expressed in the review on single-sex spaces, what steps it has taken to ensure that single-sex services continue to be provided to biological women and girls.
Answer
Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls acknowledges the important role specialist and single-sex services play in supporting victim-survivors of violence against women and girls.
There are single sex exceptions in the UK wide Equality Act 2010, and it is the responsibility of service providers to comply with the 2010 Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission as the body responsible for enforcing the 2010 Act has produced specific guidance to support organisations in their compliance, including a Statutory Code of Practice and a guide for service providers who operate a separate or single-sex service.