Women’s rights groups oppose transgender UN ‘champion’

WOMEN’S rights groups have written in opposition to a decision by UN Women UK to have a transgender woman as its ““UK champion”.

They have voiced their “dismay and disappointment” following the decision to select the model and broadcaster Munroe Bergdorf, 36, to take on the role in November.

The organisations opposed to the choice include Fair Play for Women, Sex Matters, Transgender Trend and the Women’s Rights Network.

UN Women UK works in support of UN Women in a bid to transform the lives of women and girls along with “empowerment of women equality globally within civil society, government and the corporate sector”.

The groups in their joint letter, seen by The Times, wrote: “We wish to register our dismay and disappointment at the appointment of … Munroe Bergdorf as a UN Women UK champion. Munroe Bergdorf is unsuitable in every regard. Munroe Bergdorf’s well-publicised activism is not pro-women. This person has objected to women making references to our female bodies.”

They called into question how Ms Bergdorf could hold such a role although she does not speak about female bodies. She has previously held the role of an advocate for UN Women UK back in 2019.

Ms Bergdorf has also supported the Draw a Line campaign, in a drive to end violence against women and girls.

On being given the role, she said: “Working with the UN has been a personal ambition and dream of mine ever since I started working in the activism space over a decade ago. It’s a responsibility that I don’t take lightly.

“I will use this role to further advocate for the progress, safety, inclusion and empowerment of all women and girls, of all communities and identities.

“I will continue to draw attention to the systemic and social impact of misogyny, transphobia and gender-based inequality within the UK – in order to help provide data and insight that contributes to forming tangible methods of tracking and countering it.”