Six years after the ­recommendations of the Elish Angiolini review were accepted, independent misconduct panels will now apply only to the most senior officers – those at Assistant Chief Constable level and above. eu1.hubs.ly/H0z9tX20

Our October letters are now live on our Substack, with news, writing, art and Q&A with women suffering through life under the Taliban. We also have a new Meet the women section where we’ll get to know one of our contributors in more depth. #FreeAfghanWomen

We wonder how long it will be before @NHSScotland will follow suit??

In the week four rapist officers revealed within a year Police Scotland shelve independent misconduct reviews for all except top brass- a promise made six years ago following damning Angiolini review which they and gov agreed to adopt.Independent panels were to restore public confidence. Almost 80 officers currently suspended at £4m a year-some for six years! @RealStephenKerr @MaryHowden

The NHS has published single-sex guidance for staff and patients. Read the guidance on NHS staff facilities here ➡️ england.nhs.uk/publication/g… Read the guidance on hospital accommodation for patients here ➡️ england.nhs.uk/publication/p…

In late 1976, a handful of brave Glaswegian women got a hold of a telephone and a room and started to take phone calls from women who had or were surviving rape and sexual abuse. GCRC began to operate then. Kickstarting today, with our ‘For Her’ appeal, we plan to take the full year of our 50th Anniversary to honour her, be honest for her, and provide hope for her. We will assess how we have done in realising our appeal ambitions in November 2027. For now, find out more including how to donate here- glasgowclyderapecrisis.org.u… Our appeal pages includes an appeal brochure, downloadable posters and direct links to our giving pages. Everything we do, will do, and always have done, is For Her. Join us.

The lack of evidence to support the 'transgender identity' aspect of the government's conversion practices bill would be risible if the consequences were not so appalling. Let's take what is virtually the opening paragraph of the updated Equality Impact Assessment, which claim "There is growing evidence on the harm associated with conversion practices, including long lasting damage to those who go through it". A footnote is given with 3 references, which an innocent reader might imagine would back up that claim. Two of the references relate to work commissioned by the Government Equalities Office in 2021 to research conversion therapy (which was the term used before the broader concept of 'conversion practices' was adopted). How confident are these researchers that their work offered reliable evidence? In their own words: "Whether or not these experiences constitute ‘conversion therapy’ may depend on the definition, but they were perceived to be so by the interviewees." As for specific examples of 'conversion' on people with a gender identity, the researchers chose to cite cases in therapy such as "looking for ‘causes’ by discussing childhood trauma and family relationships". Yet government officials have repeatedly stated that exploratory therapy of this kind does NOT qualify as 'conversion'. In summary, the 2021 research admits that what is reported as 'conversion' might not qualify as such, and fails to offer any examples of even subjective claims of so-called gender identity conversion that would warrant criminal sanctions. What about the 3rd reference cited in the EqIA? This is a report by the American Psychological Association, which states: "we limited our review to sexual orientation and did not address gender identity". In conclusion: 3 citations, no evidence that could remotely be relied on for the accompanying claim as it relates to (trans)gender identity. And this is the basis for introducing a new criminal offence punishable with up to 5 years in prison.

Documentary to examine 'polarising public figure' of JK Rowling trib.al/Ve9hj5X

On drug facilitated rape in intimate relationships. A Manchester court is preparing to sentence a husband who has pleaded guilty to 60 offences, including drugging and raping his wife for more than 20 years. Twelve co-defendants are on trial, accused of abusing her while she was unconscious. The Women’s Rights Network says this is NOT an isolated case. More on our substack: womensrightsnetwork.substack…