The Engender office will be closed from Fri 23rd Dec til Mon 9th Jan 2012

The European Women's Lobby is expressing concern about the lack of action on EU commitment to a better work/life balance for men and women in Europe. It follows the publication of the Council of the European Union's review of progress on the reconciliation of work and family life as a precondition for equal participation in the labour market.  Read more 

While the Scottish Government equaity proofs it's budget, it's  Capital Investment Spending plans are not gender proofed, leading to a multi-billion pound infrastructure building programme that won't create many jobs for women, finds Lesley Riddoch.  Read more

Glasgow have had domestic abuse courts providing specialist prosecutors and sheriffs for several years.  Now Edinburgh is to pilot such a scheme with cases from the south and east of the city being heard by a specialist court which will sit fortnightly.  In addition to offering support from agencies with expertise in domestic abuse, the courts aim to bring the accused to trial in half the time the current system takes.  Read more

A study has found that lad's mags and convicted rapists are using the same language.  Most people who took part in the study by Middlesex University could not distinguish between quotes from the magazines and comments about women made by convicted rapists.   While regulation of these magazines has focussed on displaying them out of the eye line of children, this study highlights the influence they may have in  promoting and normalising attitudes that are harmful to women .  Read more