1. No excuse for abuse- Cornwall
Promoting and defending
Women-Only Spaces
Brenda Weston – Policy and Research

2. Introductions
• Name
• Organisation (if relevant)
• What would you like to get from the
workshop?

3. Why women only spaces?
• Find a partner to work with
• Agree and note arguments for
women-only spaces/services (5 mins)
• Feedback key points (10 mins)

4. What support is there for these
arguments?
• Equality Act 2010
– Public Sector Equality Duty
– Positive Action
• Public Law
• The Compact (local/national)
• CEDAW

5. Public Sector Equality Duty
“… requires public bodies, and others who
exercise public functions, to have due regard to
the need to



eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and
victimisation;
advance equality of opportunity; and
foster good relations between people who share a
protected characteristic and those who do not share
it.”
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/public-sectorduties/thenew-public-sector-equality-duty/)

6. ‘Due regard’ and Equality data
Under the requirements of the general duty to have ‘due
regard’ to the matters set out in the Act
• “public bodies will need to understand the effect
of their policies and practices on equality…
• this will involve looking at evidence, engaging
with … staff, service users and others and…
• considering the effect of what they do on the
whole community”.
(Quoted from: Equality Act 2010: The public sector Equality Duty: reducing
bureaucracy)

7. Positive Action provisions
• Positive action is lawful under the Equality Act (positive
discrimination is not)
• The Equality Act does not mean that both sexes should
be treated the same
• Single-sex services are permitted where evidence is that
it is needed
• Case law: in certain contexts it is still legal and
appropriate for public authorities to fund (and provide)
women-only services
• Positive action is discretionary – not mandatory

8. Public Law
In summary, public bodies must
• Act lawfully
• Act fairly
and
• Decisions must not be perverse or irrational e.g.
– Should not be based on irrelevant information or
ignore relevant information
– Decisions that ‘flew in the face of the evidence’ have
been found by courts to be irrational

9. CEDAW
• United Nations – aka ‘Women’s International Bill of
Human Rights’
• Places obligations on UK gov and all public bodies to
fully implement it to achieve equality between women
and men – includes positive action
• Policies, services, strategies and initiatives must
recognise and respond effectively to the different needs
of women and men – can include women-only services
• Convention is legally binding under international law

10. For full guidance...
women-only services:
making the case
A guide for women’s organisations
http://www.wrc.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2011/m/m
aking_the_case_for_women_only_july_2011.pdf