To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported guidance issued by Rape Crisis Scotland, and its definition of the word “woman”. (S6O-04303)

The Scottish Government is clear that the needs of survivors of rape and sexual assault must be the utmost priority of support services.

Although we cannot intervene in the running of independent organisations, we are clear that access to separate or single-sex provision for survivors is a legitimate and proportionate response when providing support to rape survivors. We therefore welcome the fact that Rape Crisis Scotland is currently consulting member groups and survivors to agree a clear approach to the matter within the terms of the Equality Act 2010.

It was recently reported that Rape Crisis Scotland has dropped its pledge to define the word “woman”, after a series of scandals over the service’s embracing of gender ideology. That does not give reassurance to survivors of rape and sexual assault that the charity will be a safe, single-sex space for them. Does the minister agree that “adult human female” is the only appropriate definition of the word “woman”?

A woman is an adult female—that is clear. However, it is simply a fact that trans people also exist and have always done so. That is not new.