Trans Exile Network joins the Trans Advocacy and Complaints Collective (TACC) in formally withdrawing recognition of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) as an independent and credible human rights institution following the appointment of Dr. Mary-Ann Stephenson as Chair. Her selection marks a troubling shift from impartial human rights protection to political complicity in systemic exclusion against transgender and intersex communities.
In recent years, the EHRC has repeatedly failed its statutory duty to safeguard all protected groups. In May 2025, TACC exposed secret EHRC consultations with Sex Matters, a group openly hostile to trans people, to reshape statutory guidance on single-sex spaces. Helen Joyce, director of Sex Matters, publicly advocated "reducing or keeping down the number of people who transition," a statement widely criticized by scholars as reflecting explicitly culturally destructive views towards trans individuals. Transsexual people in particular were affected by the For Women Scotland, a case targeting solely the 8500 known transsexual people diagnosed in the UK who have re-registered their births based on expert evidence and court permission under the UKs strict tests for allowing that to be done. The EHRC wholly failed in its duty to promote the inclusion of people with that protected characteristic and medical condition. TEN has no confidence in the EHRC and will press for revocation of its GANHRI accreditation immediately and firmly.
The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issued a Red Flag Alert in 2025, explicitly warning that UK policies contribute to systemic exclusion, denial of healthcare, and intentional identity erasure of transgender individuals. These actions align with persecution and potential genocidal intent under international law.
Dr. Mary-Ann Stephenson's public record raises additional concern. During her pre-appointment hearings with parliamentary committees, MPs and peers questioned her suitability due to disproportionate alignment with gender-critical views. Stephenson has supported gender-critical activism, including signing letters defending controversial speech against transgender identities and donating to legal defense funds supporting gender-critical positions. Parliamentary committees stated clearly they could not endorse her, citing insufficient experience across equality areas and concerns about her ability to rebuild trust among marginalized communities.
Effective immediately, Trans Exile Network will no longer cooperate with or endorse EHRC activities under Dr. Stephenson. We urge civil society organizations, equality bodies, and international human rights mechanisms to withdraw recognition from the EHRC. Continued engagement risks legitimizing an institution that no longer upholds universal human rights.
We further call on international bodies, including GANHRI and the United Nations, to formally acknowledge the UK's failure to maintain a legitimate national human rights institution.
Trans Exile Network remains dedicated to protecting the rights abandoned by the EHRC and will collaborate globally to hold UK authorities accountable.
