Join Fox News for access to this content
Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge.
By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.
Please enter a valid email address.
By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

The United Nations addressed the participation of biological men competing in women's sports as a human rights issue during a meeting of the General Assembly on October 8.

Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, spoke with Fox News Digital about the report she gave to all 193 UN member countries, which advocated for the safety of women and girls in sports.

"It's not a cultural issue, it's not an individual issue, it's a human rights issue," Alsalem told Fox News Digital. Her report looks at all forms of violence that women and girls around the world experience when playing sports, which includes the opening up of the female category to biological males.

"The primordial concern in the sporting world is about competition, is about winning, is about the reputation of the athlete and the reputation of the sporting organization, so anything that may undermine that gets pushed under the rug and is not addressed or dealt with the way it should be," she said. 

COLLEGE ATHLETE, OLYMPIAN CALL ON UN TO SUPPORT FAIRNESS IN GIRLS SPORTS: ‘STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN'

Reem Alsalem

Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on violence against women and girls at the United Nations, advocates for the safety of women and girls in sports. (ADF International)

Alsalem said she looked at the "perpetrators of violence" against women in sports, which can include coaches and fellow athletes, as part of her report, and made recommendations to all relevant stakeholders, including states, sports bodies, schools, as well as women and girls who compete in sports. 

In the U.S. and other Western countries, Alsalem argued that the policies that allow biological men to compete in women's sports are "denying them [women] their femaleness." 

"They are saying that we don't recognize sex as being rooted in biology and therefore, we will allow anyone to compete in a female category if they are biologically male, but identify as females," she said. "So, biological sex as a determinant of the female category is not important, what matters is how you feel about it."

"In Afghanistan, [for example], when they exclude women, it's very clear to them that they're excluding those women because they are women and because of their female sex," she continued. "So, ironically, in many ways, they know what that woman is, and they're not debating the reason why they are discriminating and persecuting women. It's because they are females, they're seen as the lesser sex and all the approaches to that, the misogyny and the patriarchal ideas that surround that."

In her report, Alsalem calls for the creation of open categories in sports competition and the introduction of non-invasive and confidential sex screenings to ensure inclusive participation, as well as fairness, safety and dignity for female athletes. 

ALGERIAN BOXER AT CENTER OF CONTROVERSY MAKES 4-WORD DECLARATION ON GENDER AFTER LATEST OLYMPIC WIN 

Reem Alsalem

Alsalem warned that biological men competing in women's sports is "denying them [women] their femaleness." (Reem Alsalem)

But, Alsalem argued that the issue extends beyond competition as it opens up private women's spaces to those individuals who are biologically male but identify as female, including bathrooms and locker rooms outside of sports. She also said the issue is not unique to the U.S., describing it as a "worrisome trend" she has observed in a number of countries. 

"Women are saying ‘we want our female spaces, biological sex is central to our experiences as women and our experiences of discrimination and violence, but when we say that, we are being punished, we lose jobs, we are attacked online and offline, we are threatened, we are even sued in courts, and we are vilified,'" she said. 

Alsalem also mentioned the Title IX reforms put forth by the Biden administration as limiting opportunities for women under a law that was first enacted to protect them. 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was originally a 37-word provision barring schools that receive federal funding from discriminating against students on the basis of sex, ensuring equal opportunity for women in the educational setting.

The Biden Administration, under Title IX, has expanded the definition of sex discrimination and harassment to include gender identity and sexual orientation, which athletes, experts and activists have argued will have significant implications for women-only spaces. 

Alsalem publicly warned the Biden Administration in December 2023?that altering the definition of what it means to be a woman under Title IX would result in a?"loss of privacy, an increased risk of physical injury, heightened exposure to sexual harassment and voyeurism, as well as a more frequent and accumulated psychological distress due to the loss of privacy and fair and equal sporting and academic opportunities."??? 

For example, she said that under the new changes to Title IX, men identifying as women would now be eligible for scholarships previously reserved for female athletes. 

"Females in sport are getting such a small slice of the cake," she said. "They have so few opportunities, that by opening those few opportunities now to males, you're reducing their opportunities even more." 

"That is not only so unjust and unfair, but is a representation of that discrimination against women because they are women or because they are girls," she added. "It's a new manifestation of the patriarchy."

TRANSGENDER BACKLASH PROMPTS PRO-WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM TO APOLOGIZE FOR ‘TOO MANY BALLS’ BRANDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Reem Alsalem in 2022

United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem (L) and UN Human Rights Officer Orlagh McCann (R) address a press conference in Ankara on July 27, 2022. (ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

After Alsalem presented her report at the UN, U.S. Adviser for the Third Committee, Dylan Lang, responded to Alsalem's findings in which he admitted that women and girls face challenges, such as violence, harassment, and discrimination, but criticized her "demeaning language to refer to transgender persons."

"Your report appropriately says that all persons, irrespective of their gender identity, are entitled to live a life free from discrimination," he said. "Unfortunately, in that same report, you erroneously conflate transgender persons with intersex persons or others with naturally occurring variations in sex characteristics, and use demeaning language to refer to transgender persons."

Lang, then went on to praise American female athletes "who stand for equality and safety in sports," including the USA Gymnastics athletes who spoke out about abuse they experienced at the hands of team doctor Larry Nasser, Simone Biles' break from gymnastics, which highlighted the importance of mental health, and Olympian and activist Megan Rapinoe who fought for equal pay for women U.S. soccer players. 

Rapinoe, notably, was among the female athletes who signed a letter to the NCAA, urging the organization not to enact a policy that would bar trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. She was asked in July 2023 if she would support a trans woman playing on the United States Women’s National Team, even if it meant replacing a biological female. 

"That’s the part of the argument that’s still extremely transphobic," Rapinoe said in response. "I see trans women as real women."

In June 2024, a reporter asked Rapinoe: "Your U.S. women’s soccer team famously lost to high school boys. Do you really think it’s fair for these same boys to be competing in girls’ sports?" She ignored the question

Alsalem responded to the U.S. Adviser, arguing that the "demeaning language" in which she referred to males who identify as women as exactly that, as "factually correct."

"Human rights language and principles must continue to be consistent with science and facts, including biological ones," she said. "Multiple studies have offered evidence that athletes born male have proven performance advantages in sports throughout their life, although this is most apparent after puberty." 

"At the same time, nondiscrimination based on sex is recognized in all major international human rights agreements and … sex must be understood in its ordinary meaning to mean biological sex and conflating sex and gender identity throughout the creation of a legal sex category has been confusing and problematic."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Alsalem told Fox News Digital that she has discouraged the use of the term "culture war" because she believes it diminishes the safety of women and girls in sports to a lifestyle issue or ideological issue. 

"It reduces the importance and what is at stake," she said. "It's a rights issue, so I would prefer that we call it a rights war or a battle about rights because it is about something really important and core to the dignity and rights of women."

"When we use the word ‘culture war,’ the image it evokes is that those who assert the rights to female-only categories or spaces are people that are maybe culturally backward or conservative, but it has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative," she said. "It has everything to do with arguing for your human rights entitlements, you are right to ask for this, you're not being backward or inconsiderate."

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top