CEDAW, Garden Court Chambers & the definition of 'Woman'
The fix is in.
The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international human rights treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. Although the UK signed up to CEDAW in 1986, it has not yet been implemented into UK domestic law.
The CEDAW People's Tribunal (CPT) was set up last July to examine the failure to integrate CEDAW into UK legislation and make recommendations as to how CEDAW can be given full effect in the UK. “Advancing women in all aspects of society and recognising historic inequalities.”
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Just one problem; The CPT’s definition of ‘women’ appears to include men.
They won’t answer direct questions about whether or not their definition of ‘woman’ includes trans-identified males.
In fact, their silence is deafening.
But it seems pretty obvious they think the definition of ‘women’ includes ‘all genders’.
CEDAW People’s Tribunal is made up of various personnel including QCs, barristers, legal assistants, a legal consultant, a steering committee, an independent panel of judges and an advocacy group.
Six barristers from Garden Court Chambers have just been appointed as the CPT legal counsel team.
Garden Court Chambers is one of the respondents in the legal action brought by barrister, Allison Bailey.
Allison Bailey is a criminal defence barrister, feminist, lesbian and lifelong campaigner for racial equality and lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights. Together with other LGB campaigners, she co-founded the LGB Alliance in order to uphold the rights of those same-sex attracted and to challenge Stonewall's all-pervading influence in public life.
Stonewall retaliated by trying to intimidate her into silence and put pressure on her chambers to take action against her. Garden Court Chambers subsequently began an investigation into her conduct. Bailey’s lawyers maintain that the ‘unlawful discrimination and victimisation’ by Garden Court Chambers was ‘instructed, caused and induced by Stonewall’.
Garden Court Chambers is one of Stonewall’s ‘diversity champions’. It is also the chambers of trans-activist, Alex Sharpe, who once defended the housing of sexually violent trans-identified males in female prisons.
“The all Garden Court Chambers Counsel Team will be required to lead on the preparation and presentation of the legal arguments and examine over 20 witnesses, across the 3-day Tribunal Hearing. This will include exploration of the failure to integrate CEDAW into domestic legislation and the advantages to all women and girls of a Women's Bill of Rights.”
An organisation that promotes an ‘all genders’ feminism and a chambers accused of discriminating against a lesbian barrister because she believes in the material reality of biological sex are responsible for drawing up proposals that could become UK law.
A bill of rights for ‘women’, that includes its definition of ‘women’ a subsection of men, is not really a bill of rights for women.
I always enjoy JL's contributions because they're not only eloquent but they're always expertly evidenced; there's never any grey areas or mere hearsay. Kudos.
More invaluable journalism. Thank you JL. This newsletter is filling a gaping hole in holding these organisations and institutions to account.