Commission urges action over rights for women

Concerns include pay, benefits, bullying and harassment

More must be done to protect and enhance women’s rights in Scotland, campaigners have said.

A report by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) urges the Scottish Government to take action to ensure women’s rights are fulfilled.

The report, being presented today to the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, makes 27 recommendations for improvements.

It highlights the “disproportionate” impact of UK welfare reforms, particularly on disabled, black and minority ethnic women and lone mothers.

SHRC wants Scottish ministers to ensure the problems experienced by women are addressed or mitigated in the development of the new social security system for Scotland.

The report points out that only 26% of public bodies are headed by women, with the gender pay gap reaching nearly 15% when the overall hourly wages of men and women are compared, putting Scotland second from the bottom of the 45 EU member states.

Access to mental health services is also highlighted as a cause for concern.

The report praises progress made in tackling violence against women, including the recent Domestic Abuse Act, but said further concerted action is needed, particularly in relation to misogynistic bullying and sexual harassment.

Commission chairwoman Judith Robertson said: “While the Scottish Government is to be commended for many of its actions to progress gender equality, our latest report to the UN shows that it must now go further, faster...”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We continue to lead by example, with the Scottish Government having one of very few gender-balanced cabinets anywhere in the world.

“It is deeply worrying that the UK Government’s welfare cuts are having a disproportionate effect on women and hard-pressed families.”