Engender blog

Statement to the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare

Today we are publishing a joint statement to the new Joint Ministerial Group on Welfare, which was established by the UK Government command paper and draft clauses on further devolution published in January.

Last week, Engender convened a meeting of women’s organisations and members to discuss the draft clauses. These relate to a number of key areas that will affect women in Scotland, including social security and equalities legislation. However, as it stands, the clauses do not reflect the recommendations made in the Smith Commission Agreement and we are concerned that opportunities to address women’s inequality will be lost. We agreed to work together on a number of collective actions.

Tomorrow, the Ministerial Working Group meets for the first time in London. We have prepared a joint statement outlining our concerns over the welfare clauses and making a series of calls of both governments to put the needs and rights of women at the centre of their discussions.

The statement has been signed by Engender, Close the Gap, Electoral Reform Society Scotland, NUS Scotland Women’s Campaign, Rape Crisis Scotland, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Scottish Refugee Council, Scottish Women’s Aid, Scottish Women’s Budget Group, Women’s Support Project, YWCA Scotland and Zero Tolerance.

You can read the details after the click

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