Ministers set up gender equality advisory group

20th November 2017 | employment

A new group has been created to advise the Scottish Government on action needed to tackle gender inequality.

Chaired by Louise Macdonald, chief executive of Young Scot, the 14-strong Advisory Council on Women & Girls will include members from the third sector, Government and business – including three aged under 20, the youngest, Amina Ahmed of the Scottish Government Fairer Future Codesign Panel, being just 15.

They also include Kara Brown, director, World YWCA; Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer; Professor Dame Anne Glover, President-elect, Royal Society of Edinburgh; Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws QC; and Emma Ritch, executive director of Engender Scotland.

The remit of the all-female council is to:

  • bring attention to inequality, as experienced by women and girls in Scotland today;
  • champion policies that make a meaningful difference, encouraging Scotland to become a beacon for gender equality;
  • be a catalyst for change, providing a challenging voice if progress is slow or ineffective.

The council is responsible for setting its own agenda and business and will consider the need to request the collection or commissioning of new analysis. It is supported by a secretariat function provided by the Scottish Government.

Its first term will be three years, after which it will be reviewed. It will formally meet three times per year with engagement ongoing throughout the year to help the council shape its understanding of the issues facing women and girls. The first meeting will take place in 6 December 2017.

Announcing the new group, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Taking steps to secure gender equality is, of course, a moral obligation of Government as well as the right thing to do. Inequality stops women from achieving their full potential, holds us back as a nation and damages the economy.

"That is why we need more action and I have established this new group to offer a strong and challenging voice, helping us continue to achieve progress on the representation of women and girls."

Ms Macdonald added: "Our ambition is big – quite rightly – and we want to create something different. Something which leads to the entire population of Scotland being alive to the issues and feeling empowered to do something about it.

“To do this we need to spark a movement which inspires social change in the culture and conversation around gender equality in Scotland. The most important thing that the council can do is to listen – to those with experience, expertise and ideas. We look forward to beginning this work.”