MGS responds to the EHRC Code of Practice consultation
MGS has responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of Practice consultation to provide feedback on the updated guidance for services, public functions, and associations.
In April this year, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a ‘woman’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex.
Following the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) made changes to the ‘Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations’. This code offers guidance for service providers on how they should comply with the Equality Act and the steps they should take to make sure that people with protected characteristics are not discriminated against.
The purpose of the consultation was to gain feedback from service providers on the clarity of the updated Code of Practice.
In our response we:
- Highlighted our organisational values and sector strategy, both of which headline and champion inclusion
- Expressed our concern at the lack of information on how to actively include trans people
- Highlighted the lack of acknowledgement or reference to intersex people
- Expressed our concern over the practical application of the guidance and the associated additional pressures on museum staff and volunteers
- Expressed our concern over the potential financial impacts for organisations that are already experiencing financial strains
- Queried the implications of the guidance on funding criteria and expectations for grant recipients
View our full response in the document below.
Next steps
The EHRC will now consider submissions to the consultation and has advised that it will be at least one month before it provides the draft Code of Practice to the relevant Secretary of State to be approved. The draft Code will then be put before Parliament.
