Equality watchdog advises government on gender questioning children guidance for schools

Summary:

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has responded to the Department for Education's consultation on its draft guidance on gender questioning children for schools and colleges. The EHRC recommends that the guidance be updated to better represent the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, with a focus on supporting schools to take lawful decisions and avoid discrimination. The key recommendations include explaining key concepts in the Equality Act, upholding the rights of children under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and referencing human rights under the Human Rights Act. The EHRC also suggests that schools develop policies to take informed and sensitive decisions on requests relating to social transition.