Consultation Submissions - For Women ScotlandFor Women Scotland

Here we publish our submissions to Scottish and UK Government consultations, as well as any other consultations we feel it’s important for our voices to be heard.

Scottish Government
Views on the ‘End Conversion Therapy’ petition

Remit: The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee invited views on a public petition, PE1817: End Conversion Therapy.

Date submitted: 12 August 2021
Submission: PDF

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Remit: Communications (complaints/appeals/petitions) to the Commission on the Status of Women containing information relating to alleged violations of human rights that affect the status of women in any country in the world. The Commission on the Status of Women considers such communications as part of its annual programme of work in order to identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality.

Date Submitted: 01 August 2021
Submission: Our response covered the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act, All-Women Shortlists, Census, Hate Crime and Public Order Act, Prisons, and the Genuine Occupation Requirement.
PDF
Also published as stand alone chapters, starting here.

Working Group on Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland

Remit: There is no agreed definition of misogyny in Scotland currently. The Working Group have agreed a working definition to help in identifying misogynistic behaviours – this is deliberately not a legal definition and is as follows:
‘Misogyny is a way of thinking that upholds the primary status of men and a sense of male entitlement, while subordinating women and limiting their power and freedom. Conduct based on this thinking can include a range of abusive and controlling behaviours including harassment and bullying. Misogyny can be conscious or unconscious, and men and women both can be socialised to accept it.’
Written Evidence Questions:
1. Which conduct do you consider to be covered by the term misogynistic behaviours?
2. Do you know of any Scottish laws that currently address misogynistic behaviours?
3. Do the current laws adequately protect women in Scotland from misogynistic behaviours?
4. Are there any gaps in the law in Scotland regarding misogynistic behaviours?
5. Do you think there should be a stand – alone offence to cover misogynistic behaviour in public spaces including the street, around schools, on public transport, online etc.?
6. Do you think that the characteristic of ‘sex’ should be added to hate crime legislation in Scotland?
7. Do you think that there should be an offence of stirring up of sexual hatred added to hate crime legislation in Scotland?
8. What non-legal measures are you aware of that have attempted to address misogynistic behaviours within Scottish society?
9. How effective, in your view, have these non-legal measures been in addressing these behaviours?
10. Should any of these non-legal measures be made mandatory?

Date Submitted: 30 July 2021
Submission: PDF