BREAKING NEWS: Government forced to extend public consultation on conversion therapy after Fair Play For Women threatens legal action /1
fairplayforwomen.com/government-for…
fairplayforwomen.com/government-for…
Last week Fair Play For Women threatened a judicial review if the deadline for public responses was not extended.
Today, the Government has conceded and will announce the deadline is to be extended by a further 8 weeks, more than doubling the consultation period to 14 weeks /2.
Today, the Government has conceded and will announce the deadline is to be extended by a further 8 weeks, more than doubling the consultation period to 14 weeks /2.
Two autistic women joined Fair Play For Women as co-claimants threatening legal action accusing the Government of breaking disability discrimination laws. /3
An 'Easy Read’ document – designed to enable people with learning difficulties to access the consultation – was published 4 weeks late and then rapidly withdrawn the same day leaving only a week to respond before the consultation was due to close on Friday 10th December /4
Jane – one of the autistic women involved in the legal action – said:
“As an autistic adult, I have first-hand experience of the sort of processing difficulties that can make navigating complex paperwork extremely difficult and time consuming." /4
“As an autistic adult, I have first-hand experience of the sort of processing difficulties that can make navigating complex paperwork extremely difficult and time consuming." /4
"Given the significant crossover between autism and gender dysphoria, the lack of an easy read version will have the effect of excluding many who would wish to engage in the process”. /5
The second autistic co-claimant said:
“I had been waiting over a month for the promised Easy Read to be published and was worried about my ability to respond with only days left before the consultation was due to close" /6
“I had been waiting over a month for the promised Easy Read to be published and was worried about my ability to respond with only days left before the consultation was due to close" /6
"I needed the deadline extended to give me enough time to think about the issues and how they might affect me and my daughters”.
A third of children referred to the Tavistock Gender clinic have autistic traits or a diagnosis of autism. /7
A third of children referred to the Tavistock Gender clinic have autistic traits or a diagnosis of autism. /7
Dr Williams: “We're pleased they have agreed to publish an Easy Read & extend the deadline. Without this concession many people would not have had their views heard & an important group they needed to hear from – autistic young people & their parents – would have been excluded”/8
"The Government has been rushing to get this bill into law before an LGBT conference it’s hosting next year. Rushing legislation means mistakes get made. This law is complex, controversial and could harm children if they get it wrong. It is too important to be rushed”. /9
"We hope this gives officials time to slow down and reflect more widely on the law-making process. They must now take time to consider the public’s views and commit to undertaking proper pre-legislative scrutiny before any bill reaches parliament”. /10
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