EHRC concludes regulatory action on single-sex spaces review

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has said it will take no further action regarding its review of single-sex space policies

The UK’s top human rights regulator confirmed last week that it had shuttered a policy review commissioned by the previous Tory government in 2024.

Rishi Sunak’s government called for the EHRC to analyse examples of policies or guidance that allow trans people to use single-sex facilities, such as toilets or changing rooms, that are consistent with their gender identity.

It completed the review in August 2025, saying that policies which weren’t trans-exclusionary had “misrepresented” the 2010 Equality Act, arguing that the legislation did not give the trans community a “legal right” to access gender-specific facilities.

It subsequently wrote to several organisations, compelling them to update their policies to restrict single-sex spaces on the basis of “biological sex.”

In a statement on 19 February, a spokesperson for the EHRC confirmed it had concluded this review after all organisations “removed the policies in question”.

Midway through the policy review, the UK Supreme Court ruled on the FWS v Scottish Ministers case, determining that Equality Act’s definition of “women” referred to biological sex only.

In response, the EHRC began a public consultation on proposed updates that called for the exclusion of trans people from single-sex facilities. The consultation lasted six weeks and received over 50,000 responses from the public.

EHRC’s trans ‘witch hunt’ will continue, activists warn

Advocacy group Trans+ Solidarity Alliance said the closure was a small relief, but emphasised that the EHRC would continue its broader controversial work on trans rights.

“The EHRC’s witch hunt of inclusive organisations brought shame on the institution, but it ending is only a small relief,” a spokesperson said. “The EHRC continues to approach the trans community as a group of people to be excluded, rather than protected. This is what failure looks like: an equalities body that can’t focus on the real human rights issues facing us all.

“This one regulatory action may be over, but until we have real leadership from the government to protect trans people – this mess will continue.”

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance has previously urged the Labour government not to implement any provisions that blanket ban trans people from using public facilities, warning it would shape their legacy as a trans-exclusionary government.

Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson is currently considering the EHRC’s code of practice, which was submitted last year. It is currently undergoing a “constructive review” after EHRC chair Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson began her tenure in December.

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