Written evidence submitted by Rape Crisis England & Wales to the Transgender Equality Inquiry

This submission is from Rape Crisis England & Wales, an umbrella organisation that represents around 50 Rape Crisis Centres. We support survivors of sexual violence, and our service users include people from the transgender community.

Rape Crisis England & Wales welcomes this Inquiry. We are aware that there are outstanding issues of equality that need to be tackled in relation to the transgender community, and see it as imperative that these issues are identified and addressed in order to meet the needs of all our service users, including those who are transgender.

The effectiveness of the Equalities Act 2010 in relation to trans people:

As service providers, we acknowledge that disparate groups may experience discrimination and oppression in different ways. It is important that the process of assessing and meeting needs is done holistically (that is, on the basis of each person’s individual requirements), including in relation to equality issues. The current law allows us to make judgments about how to design and deliver services to all our users in a way that meets their best interests. This is essential in helping to ensure that the needs of one group are not being met to the detriment of other discriminated and oppressed groups e.g. the impact on women designated spaces and services. We hope that the inquiry will look at the needs of transgender groups whilst being aware of, and integrating the needs and concerns of other groups in order to achieve rights and equality for all.

21 August 2015