Recent misinformation about WDI and the Declaration

It has come to our attention that some people have accused WDI and our document, the Declaration of Women’s Sex-Based Rights of being in favour of the ‘elimination’ of people who claim a trans identity. In a recent BBC Politics Live programme, a student was allowed to misrepresent the Declaration in this way without challenge from the presenter. We are glad that this misinformation has been retracted - watch here (from 34:33) and read about it here.

The Declaration on Women's Sex-Based Rights reaffirms the sex-based rights of women and girls as defined by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW

The use of the words ‘elimination’ and ‘eliminating’ run through the Declaration as it calls for the:

“elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women.’’

“eliminating discrimination against those who are sexually attracted to persons of the same sex”

“elimination of violence against women and girls”

“eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls, and at promoting the advancement of women and girls in society”

“agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women”

“elimination of that act and practice of discrimination against women which comprises the inclusion of men who claim to have a female ‘gender identity’ in the category of women. Such inclusion erodes women’s rights to safety, dignity and equality.”

Nowhere do we call for the ‘elimination’ or the ‘genocide’ of people who claim a trans identity.

We have also been made aware that some people have conflated the Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights with the WDI UK evidence submitted to the UK Government Women and Equalities Commission, GRA submission in November 2020). In that evidence, which is freely available here we call for the ‘elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women’ as in Article 5 of the Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights. Those misrepresenting the Declaration have taken snippets of evidence that were responding to specific questions within the Women and Equalities consultation questions. The nine Articles of the Declaration are taken from globally ratified conventions such as CEDAW.

WDI is opposed to gender ideology. We believe in the rights of all people to live their lives free of discrimination and harassment, as we explain in our FAQ. WDI campaigns against allowing men to self-identify into the protected category of women, which is harmful to women and girls.

WDI supports everyone fighting for women’s sex-based rights. We are deeply thankful to work alongside many other wonderful organisations that share our aims, such as the LGB Alliance and FiLiA, both of whose conferences we have attended as exhibitors in the past few days

WDI stands with Professor Kathleen Stock

As a supporter of women’s sex-based rights, Professor Stock was one of the Declaration’s earliest signatories. We are proud to have her backing and condemn the abuse and harassment she has received recently from students, academics and trade unions. Women have the right to hold opinions without interference. This should include the right to hold and express opinions about ‘gender identity’ without being subject to harassment, prosecution or punishment. (Article 4) WDI calls for an immediate end to the campaign of intimidation and discrimination against her.