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Today we are launching our third crowdfunder to enable us to continue to research the weakened recognition in UK law and policy of sex as the basis for women's experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/womens-rights-in-policy-and-law
Over the past two years, we have researched and written about women’s sex-based rights and gender self-identification across different areas of public policy in the UK. All of our work can be found on our website: https://murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/
We engage regularly with key decision makers and, within a short period of time, have established a strong record of impact based on careful research and analysis.
The crowdfunders we have undertaken to date have sought funds for two discrete pieces of work: to generate submissions on the Scottish Government’s draft Gender Recognition Reform Bill and draft Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill.
This crowdfunder differs in that we are seeking to raise funds to enable us to research a number of different policy areas, and – depending on the sum we raise – we will prioritise this work as we see fit.
We also wish to continue to be able to engage with the media when approached, as we know that many women do not feel so able to do so, because of concerns about the consequences of speaking publicly on these issues. https://murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/media/
These are hard times for many people, given the economic uncertainty brought about by the Covid pandemic, so we’ve no expectations that those who have supported us in the past will be in a position to do so again.
We are incredibly humbled that so many women (and some men) have seen fit to fund the work we do to date. We hope that we have met the expectations that our donors had of us. Our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us over the past two years. Kath, Lucy and Lisa.
An update to our crowdfunder donors a week after launch: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/womens-rights-in-policy-and-law/updates/137974#start
It’s been a week since we launched our crowdfunder and we have been blown away by the response. We have already reached over 80% of our initial target. Thank you to everyone who has either donated or shared details of the crowdfunder privately or on social media.
These are hard times for many people, given the economic uncertainty brought about by the Covid pandemic, so we’ve no expectations that those who have supported us in the past will be in a position to do so again. We are grateful to everyone who has supported our work to date.
In the last few days, we have published a new article, a shorter version of which will appear in a forthcoming edition of @ScottishAffairs. You can read the longer, annotated version here: https://mbmpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/sa-7.11.20-hunter-blackburn-et-al.-lsowr-again.-annotated-online-copy.-final.pdf
We are delighted to report that the paper has been downloaded over 1,100 times in the past 48 hours. We will tweet a link to the full exchange as soon as it goes live on the Scottish Affairs website.
This week, we will be giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee on the Scottish Government's Hate Crime and Public Order Bill. You can read our written evidence here: https://mbmpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/mbm-hate-crime-and-public-order-bill.-submission-to-the-justice-committee-23-july-2020-.pdf
Proceedings commence at 9am on Tuesday 17 November and can be watched on the Scottish Parliament's livestream. Full details of the Committee's evidence sessions can be read here: https://www.parliament.scot/S5_JusticeCommittee/Meeting%20Papers/Papers20201117Public.pdf
