Page 3 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 114 - July 2023

Advocacy Working Group Report

The good news is that on 27th June the Minister for Justice
informed the House that the proposed new Bill of Rights
[“Rights Removal Bill”] has been abandoned by the Government. I received an email
from the British Institute for Human Rights thanking the 50 or so NGOs [ourselves
included] who strongly lobbied against the Bill.

There is still cause for some concern around the Government's proposal to send illegal
refugees to Rwanda as it violates the European Convention on Human Rights. Having lost
in the Court of Appeal they now intend to send their case to the Supreme Court.

Members of the Advocacy Working Group are currently obtaining
information from their LEAs (Local Education Agencies) on how
RSHE [Relationships, Sex and Health Education] is being delivered
in our schools as part of the curriculum. There appears to be a
growing lack of respect from boys towards girls and female teach-
ers. There is evidence this is being fuelled by misogynists online
such as Andrew Tate. He is a well-known media influencer who
thinks women are the property of men.
He is currently awaiting trial for rape and sex trafficking.

The Online Safety Bill which is currently progressing through Parliament could be very bene-
ficial for children under 18 but there is disappointment that it does not specifically mention
women and girls.

I would also urge members to sign the petition against the closure of railway ticket offices
th
before 26 July which would disadvantage many groups but particularly the elderly and dis-
abled. This is available at your local ticket office or online. For more information click here:
https://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/save-ticket-offices/ or sign and share
the petition and write to your MP.

Please email me if you have any views on these issues.

Christine Nendick
VP Advocacy