Page 6 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 116 - October 2023 - Binded with Van

We are currently reviewing our mandate with motions passed with a view to
celebrate our successes and identify areas which need more work in the future.
I have written to Area Leads for discussion on this at area meetings and feedback.

HUMAN RIGHTS: Although the Illegal Human Rights Bill did not go through
thanks to intensive lobbying by many organisations, including ours, there are still
concerns around the treatment of illegal immigrants especially children. The length
of time processing them leaves them effectively in limbo and without means of
becoming useful members of society. Suella Braverman has even suggested that we
may have to leave the ECHR when we were one of the initial signatories.

ONLINE SAFETY BILL: After many amendments this will now become law. It
does afford greater protection to children under 18 and platforms can be prosecuted
for displaying sites encouraging self-harm. It is less protective for women and plat-
forms will still be able to display legal but potentially harmful sites. There is no
guidance as yet on levels of sentencing for infringements.

RHSE [Relationships Health and Sex Education] in schools: The independent
panel reviewing this is now due to report back in November.

Misogyny: Although up-skirting and down-blousing has been made illegal
there are still too many cases emerging of powerful males behaving inappropriately.
e.g. the recent fiasco on GB News and yet more cases involving high ranking police
officers.

Rights of the Persons Act 1861: After the controversial sentencing of Carla
Foster for procuring termination pills online late in pregnancy is it time to update
this old law? I look forward to receiving feedback on any of these issues both at
individual or area level.

Chris Nendick,
VP Advocacy