Calls for action over women’s rights

Campaigners have called for more to be done to protect women’s rights in Scotland.

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

The report will be presented to the UN’S Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women today.

It highlights the “disproportionate” impact of UK welfare reforms, particularly on disabled, black and minority ethnic women and lone mothers and makes 27 recommendations for improvements.

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 highlights that only 26 per cent of public bodies are headed by women, with the gender pay gap reaching nearly 15 per cent 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 concern, with young women more than twice as likely to be depressed as men.

It also highlights uncertainty about the implications of Brexit for the protection of human rights and women’s rights, and backs a ban on smacking children.