Women’s Declaration International UK’s response to the
EU action plan for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action (GAP IV)
Women’s Declaration International UK is the UK branch of Women’s Declaration International (WDI)
The Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights was developed in response to the growing replacement of the category of sex with concepts such as ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender reassignment’ in law, policy, and practice. It affirms that this shift undermines the ability of states and institutions to identify sex-based discrimination and to safeguard women, girls, and other vulnerable groups from harm. It has been signed by over 40,000 individuals internationally, and hundreds of organisations worldwide.
The Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights reaffirms that women’s human rights are grounded in sex, not in cultural roles, identities, or social norms. The treaties referenced in your call for evidence refer to sex and not ‘gender’. This clarity is essential.
When international frameworks lose clarity about sex as a material reality, the ability to identify and oppose harmful practices and enforce meaningful boundaries is eroded. Sex-based rights are not exclusionary; they are protective. They enable accurate identification of victims, accountability for perpetrators, and effective safeguarding of women and girls.
Due to the imprecision of the language used, funds that should be directed to projects that specifically benefit women and girls are routed elsewhere. This subversion must be redressed and the resources used for their intended purpose.
We at WDI UK are aware that, in light of the Supreme Court ruling of April 2026, other women’s rights organisations across Europe keep a close eye on our continuing struggle for implementation and reinstatement of women’s single-sex provision as cited in law.
Sex-based rights are not exclusionary: they are protective.
Articles of the Declaration
1. Women’s rights are based on their sex
Sex is the physical and biological characteristics that distinguish males from females. Women and girls rights should be based on sex, not ‘gender identity’.
2. Motherhood is an exclusively female status
Maternal rights and services are based on women’s unique, sex-based capacity to gestate and give birth to children. These rights and services, and the word ‘Mother’ itself, should stay reserved for persons of the female sex.
3. Physical and reproductive integrity
Women have the right to control their fertility. The reproductive rights of women and girls, and their access to reproductive services, should be upheld. Forced pregnancies, surrogate motherhood, and medical research aimed at enabling men to gestate and give birth to children are to be eliminated.
4. Freedom of opinion and expression
Women have the right to hold opinions without interference. This should include the right to hold and express opinions about gender identity without being subject to harassment, prosecution or punishment.
5. Peaceful assembly and association
Women have a right to peaceful assembly and a freedom of association. This should include the right to assemble and associate based on their sex. Lesbians should have a right to assemble and associate on the basis of their sexual orientation. Women’s assemblies and associations should not have to include men who claim to have female ‘gender identities’.
6. Political participation
There are opportunities and protections that were specifically created to help women achieve equal status with men, such as participation quotas. These opportunities and protections should apply only to persons of the female sex and shall not include men who claim to have female ‘gender identities’.
7. Participation in sports and physical education
Women and girls are objectively physically different from men and boys in ways other than reproductive capacity. For women and girls to have equitable opportunities in sports, certain sports activities must remain single-sex.
8. Elimination of violence against women
To fight violence against women and girls, single-sex victim support services, including rape crisis centres and domestic violence shelters, should remain single-sex. In order to create effective policies to eliminate sex-based violence, we need accurate data and statistics about who the victims and perpetrators are, including their sex.
9. Protection of the rights of the child
Children should receive accurate information about human biology and reproduction, and not gender stereotyping through their education. Children should not be subjected to the use of drugs and surgery for ‘gender reassignment’.
27 April 2026
Statement PDF:
Further Reading:
EU action plan for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action (GAP IV)
Call for Evidence and Feedback
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/17312-EU-action-plan-for-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-in-EU-external-action-GAP-IV-_en
Declaration on Women’s Sex Based Rights
https://www.womensdeclaration.com/