Welfare Reform - Inspiring Women Meeting

Tuesday 6th December, 6pm - 7.30pm

The UK Governments welfare reform agenda will have a huge impact on the lives of women in Scotland, with job losses and cuts to public services and benefits set to affect us all.  Maggie Kelly from the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform will talk about the work of the campaign and how you can get involved followed by a general discussion of the issues.   Please contact karen@engender.org.uk if you would like to come along

Inspiring Women meetings are held in the Engender Office, 1a Haddington Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4AE

Gender and Asylum: Gendering the Asylum Process

Wednesday 7th December, 10am - 1pm

Our final roundtable takes place in Glasgow and will discuss the need to consider gender based persecution as grounds for granting asylum. The outcome of this discussion will be used to highlight the importance of gendering asylum policy.  Want to be part of the discussion?  contact rosaria@engender.org.uk  or call 0131 558 9596

Gender and Asylum takes place in the Institute for Society and Social Justice Research
Glasgow Caledonian University
Buchanan House, Seminar Room (Level 3)
58 Port Dundas Road
Glasgow
G4 0BA

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have published the results of their inquiry into human trafficking in Scotland. The inquiry, led by Baroness Helena Kennedy found that sex trafficking was the most identified trafficking purpose and that women were more likely to be trafficked into Scotland than men.  The report reccommends that the Scottish Government introduce a  comprehensive Human Trafficking Bill based upon a review of all its legislation relating to human trafficking.

Read a summary of the inquiry

Read the full 'Inquiry into Human Trafficking in Scotland'

Close the Gap report that the persisting gender pay gap means that from 18th November till the end of the year, Scottish women working full time are effectively working for nothing.   The gender pay gap for full time working is currently 12%.  Read more

The European Women's Lobby have published a report showcasing the campaigns and issues it has been involved in during the past year.  Her Future - What's it Worth to You? calls on support for women's rights accross Europe and reports on Violence, poverty and economic dependence, stereotypes, equal representation and more.    

Read more                         

Scotland's new law on forced marriage came into force this week.  The legislation gives courts the power to issue forced marriage protection orders and makes breach of such an order a criminal offence punishable by two years in jail, a fine or both.  Annuling a forced marriage has also been made easier under the new law. 

Read more 

Criticism of the female-free short list for Sports Personality of the Year has led to the BBC announcing that the nomination process will be reviewed. But if, as Tanni Grey-Thomson told BBC Wales, only 2% of media coverage in sport goes to women, it's more than just the nominating process the beeb should be looking at!

Read more