Nothing but the truth

The oath or affirmation required from witnesses in Scottish courts comprises the promise ‘ to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’  Reasons for this are plain – courts require complete evidence, honesty, no fabrication, pretence or speculation. In other words, answer all questions honestly and if you don’t know, can’t remember, didn’t see or hear – then say so. Never mislead and never fabricate. Never. 

We favour this undertaking in Scotland because we’ve centuries long traditions of respecting the rule of law, equality before the law and seek to see the delivery of justice.

Democratic states like Scotland support the telling of truth, tending also to care for and protect the vulnerable, the weak, the victims, the complainers and to provide safeguards for the accused including independent representation and access to justice for all.

It cannot be just to pretend as our Scottish Government will do this week in the highest court of the UK that a man can become a woman by the inscribing of magic words on a piece of paper. It cannot be just to refer to a rapist as female.

It cannot be just to say that a man with a special scrap of paper can then gain access to women’s wards, changing rooms, sports, toilets, social groups and prisons.

It cannot be just to require victims of rape to share counselling spaces with men, with bodies similar to those by whom they were violated.

It cannot be just to insist that men in dresses with intact male bodies who change their names and wear frocks share hospital wards with old ladies of feeble mind being treated for breast cancer, broken hips or varicose veins. In the quiet dead of night with a skeleton staff where are the safeguards for the dignity and safety of these elder women? 

It cannot be just that parents of disabled daughters live in terror that those daughters will become subject to the delivery of intimate care by males posing as females  and all the hurt that predators do bring into such situations. The heart rending and justified fears of those parents should not exist in a civilised society.

It is not just to speak with forked tongue, pretend to deliver 16 days of activism against gender based violence and simultaneously argue in court that a man is a woman because 

he says so. Politicians claiming such are not fit for purpose.

In the light of multiple men seeking transfer into women’s prisons, at times being permitted such by the Scottish Government, by the Scottish Prison Service and by innumerable politicians, can we hope for a reinstatement of the common sense processes of safeguarding – of recognition that no man can become woman and issues of safety for trans identifying men are problems for men to resolve and that do not and never should impinge upon the rights and safety of women ?

A progressive government would have no truck with limiting women’s access to services, facilities and justice; a listening responsible government would enhance and secure women’s protections and create separate systems for trans identifying males. Failure so to do comprises short sighted misogyny which will sound the death knell for the rank stupidity which references to ‘pregnant man’ and ‘born in the wrong body’ constitute.

If you’ve a spare quid please send it to forwomen.scot/donate/.  They deserve our complete support and gratitude. Best of luck this week, ladies. You have earned the respect of hundreds of thousands worldwide.