Open petition: Require sex specific language in government, NHS, education, and public bodies

Created by C CURRAN
Closes on 9 March 2027

Require Government departments, NHS, education and publicly funded bodies to use the words women, girls, mothers and pregnant women as the primary and default wording in policies, guidance and public messages. These words must not be replaced, removed, diluted or overshadowed by alternative wording.

We believe clear, sex-specific language is essential to safeguarding and safe healthcare for women, men and children, ensuring that biological differences, risks and needs are properly recognised and understood.

We hold that women should not have to see the words woman, girl, mother, and pregnant woman disappear or become secondary. I raised concerns with House of Lords members about language obscuring women’s reality, issues which remain unresolved. The Government accepts sex matters but appears to defend additive wording. We assert you cannot safeguard girls and women if language is deleted or diluted. We believe this recognises the importance of motherhood highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur.

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