Women’s Policy Group NI Calls for Inclusive and Equitable Reform in Women and Girls’ Sport Legislation

27 October 2025 – The WRDA led Women’s Policy Group Northern Ireland (WPG NI) has submitted a comprehensive response to the consultation on the Women and Girls in Sport in Northern Ireland Bill, urging lawmakers to ensure that the legislation promotes genuine inclusion, equity, and safety for all women and girls.

The WPG NI, a coalition of policy experts and practitioners from across the women’s sector, has welcomed the Bill’s intent to improve participation and representation in sport. However, the group has raised serious concerns about several proposals that could unintentionally exclude or harm marginalised groups, particularly transgender and intersex women and girls.

Key Recommendations from WPG NI Include:

• Investment in Women’s Sport: Ringfencing funding and prioritising equitable access to facilities, coaching, and resources.

• Safeguarding Reform: Mandatory and consistent training for coaches, robust complaint mechanisms, and intersectional safeguarding policies.

• Inclusive Language and Policy: Recognition of “women and girls” as inclusive of transgender and intersex individuals, with opposition to invasive testing or data collection.

• Gender Budgeting: Embedding gender analysis in all stages of the budget process to ensure fair distribution of resources.

• Data Collection and Transparency: Standardised data across councils to monitor access and equity in sports facilities.

The WPG NI also cautioned against proposals that could lead to invasive monitoring, mandatory single-sex spaces, or burdensome obligations on amateur clubs, warning that such measures could reduce participation and create barriers rather than remove them.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Elaine Crory – elaine.crory@wrda.net

Meghan Hoyt – meghan.hoyt@wrda.net