21 July 2014

'Gender Segregation Is Discrimination' - So Why Does the EHRC Allow for Exemptions?

Seven months after the controversy surrounding the publication of Universities UK's guidelines legitimising gender segregation, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has now ruled that gender segregation is - generally - unlawful. The verdict of the commission could not be clearer:

.... However, as usual, the catch is in the fine print. Reading further into the document, one can find several worrying exemptions that rather than discourage discrimination, will give those who want to undermine equality principles a helping hand in maintaining segregation.

The first is that "equality law does not apply to religious worship". Thus, "a religious student society or association may organise a gender segregated event, for the duration of any religious service." [The Huffington Post UK] Read more