Consultation Responses and Parliamentary Briefings

Engender Parliamentary Briefing: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence

Nov 28, 2023: This is a briefing for MSPs ahead of the Scottish Government debate marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence in 2023. We welcome this debate as an opportunity for all MSPs to call for a primary prevention approach in all Scottish policymaking. A Scotland free from violence and abuse is possible. However, more strategic action and sustainable investment are urgently required to realise this.

Engender Parliamentary Briefing: Recognising the Vital Role Men Must Play in Challenging and Eradicating Violence against Women and Girls

Nov 30, 2022: This is a briefing for MSPs ahead of the Scottish Government debate marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence in 2022 on the theme of 'Recognising the Vital Role Men Must Play in Challenging and Eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls'. Without mainstreaming women’s needs across policymaking and budgeting in an intersectional way, we run the risk of entrenching gender inequality even more deeply and enabling VAWG in Scotland. Engender is calling on all MSPs to recognise their responsibility for stopping violence and discrimination against women across all settings. By embedding a primary prevention approach in public policy, we can achieve a Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected.

Date of publication: November 2022.

Engender response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland

Sep 13, 2022: Engender welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in Scotland. For many years we have advocated for substantial reform of the Scottish Specific Duties (SSDs) to ensure that PSED is fit for purpose in bringing equality considerations to the heart of public sector work, and that public bodies are supported in fulfilling their obligations. In light of the re-entrenchment of women’s inequality that has been brought by Covid-19, particularly for women who experience multiple discrimination, this need for vastly improved equality mainstreaming is even more pressing.

We share concerns with many other equalities organisations that the current proposals are not ambitious enough to create the meaningful change that is badly needed. The duties currently in place have not resulted in notable progress for people with protected characteristics and therefore require fundamental revision. The various stages of the review to date have been somewhat superficial and lack the comprehensive analysis of these limitations that we have called for alongside sector colleagues. Stakeholders within the equality sector have extensive expertise to offer, but the engagement process so far has not been designed in a way that makes best use of our expertise. Given an appropriate process that enabled fulsome and thoughtful sharing of expertise, equalities organisations could support Scottish Government to create a set of duties which are both more effective and more enforceable than the current regulations.

In this submission we therefore urge Scottish Government to develop a revised set of duties in co-production with equality stakeholders; to strengthen proposals with a focus on outcomes for people with protected characteristics rather than simplifying the regime for compliance purposes; and to ensure that adequate time is now taken to undertake urgently needed research.

Date of Publication: April 2022

Public Sector Equality Duty: Equality Stakeholders' Submission on Common Concerns

Apr 11, 2022: Organisations in Scotland’s equality sector welcomed the Scottish Government’s intention to reform the Scottish Specific Public Sector Equality Duties. Many have been engaging with the Scottish Government on the Review for several years. Reform has the potential to create meaningful change for people with protected characteristics, and our organisations are therefore keen to ensure the Review process is as effective as possible.

We have serious concerns about the direction of the current consultation on the review of the effectiveness of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland. We are keen to work with the Scottish Government in ensuring that any revised duties are as robust as necessary and will lead to real improvements in the lives of people with protected characteristics.

As such, we call on the Scottish Government to adopt a fully-fledged collaborative process, working with equality stakeholders in drafting the revised regulations.

Date of Publication: April 2022

Engender submission of evidence to the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee Call for Evidence on the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill

May 6, 2019: Engender welcomes this opportunity to provide evidence to the Committee in relation to the Scottish National Investment Bank Draft Bill. We believe that the National Investment Bank (the Bank) can make a substantive impact on women’s equality, provided that it can translate Scotland’s ambitions for inclusive growth into gender-competent strategy and execution. There is now a wealth of international evidence that gender equality is a necessary precursor to economic growth, and Scotland’s economic strategy restates this. However, if the Bank is to address the structural issues underlying women’s economic inequality it must integrate gender equality into every element of its organisation and work.

Date of publication: May 2019.

Engender Parliamentary Briefing: Condemnation of Misogyny, Racism, Harassment and Sexism

Mar 28, 2019: Engender welcomes this Scottish Parliament Debate on Condemnation of Misogyny, Racism, Harassment and Sexism and the opportunity to raise awareness of the ways in which women in Scotland’s inequality contributes to gender-based violence.

Harassment and other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) are both a cause and a consequence of women’s inequality. Through our policy and advocacy work we have drawn attention to the multitude of ways in which women’s inequality persists in Scotland and without concerted action to address these, attitudes and actions which replicate sexism and create the conducive context for men’s violence will continue.

Date of publication: March 2019.

Engender Submission to the European and External Affairs Committee Call for Evidence on the Implications of the EU Referendum Result

Sep 1, 2016: This paper sets out the need for effective gender mainstreaming and the inclusion of women’s voices as the Brexit process moves forward, briefly describes current gender equality law to which EU member states are bound under the terms of their membership and Scotland is therefore set to lose, and sets out the impact that this legislation has had on UK policy, and current EU programmes, policies and funding priorities that promote gender equality. In demonstrating what the EU has done and is doing for women, we highlight areas of concern and the need for action to protect women’s rights as the UK negotiates its exit.

Date of publication: August 2016.