16 Days of Activism is a global campaign which runs from 25 November 2024 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) until 10 December 2024 (Human Rights Day).

As the 16 days of activism begins, SEEN In Health is inviting NHS staff to note the importance of recognising and accurately recording sex, which is a protected characteristic, to prevent sexual violence. We welcome the NHS Sexual Safety Charter and encourage trusts to sign up.

98% of sexual violence is committed by men. Women are disproportionately victims of sexual violence.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) shows that more than 90% of rape victims are women, even though only half the population is female. This highlights the importance of female-only spaces in settings where women may be changing, using the bathroom, are vulnerable or recovering from trauma.

The NHS staff survey found that:

• 58,000 staff had been sexually harassed by a patient, their relatives, or by other members of the public – that is 1 in 12 staff

• almost 26,000 said they’d received unwanted sexual behaviour from another member of staff

Protecting the safety of women is a legitimate reason to have single-sex spaces which reflect biological sex, rather than gender identity.

The Equality Act 2010 provides a legal basis for the provision of single-sex spaces in the UK. This Act protects all individuals from discrimination, but also explicitly allows for single-sex services under certain conditions.

For the NHS, this means providing staff or patients with single-sex spaces to ensure privacy, safety, and dignity. The NHS cannot properly address the issue of male sexual violence against women if they don’t recognise someone’s sex.

Do you agree that single-sex spaces should be reserved for people of that sex, regardless of gender identity?

If so, join us at SEEN In Health.