This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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International Women's Day
08/03/2007
International Women's Day is being marked by Communities Minister Rhona Brankin in a speech highlighting the progress made by women in Scotland, particularly since devolution.
Ms Brankin told the Scottish Women's Convention in Edinburgh:
"International Women's Day is an important time to reflect on the progress made in Scotland. Women are making a crucial contribution across all aspects of social, cultural, economic and political life.
"And I believe devolution has made a vital contribution to progressing women's rights. After years of chronic under-representation in the political life of Scotland, this country's parliament is now a world leader in terms of women's representation. This has helped put women's issues firmly on the political agenda.
"But it has also made clear that we still have more to do. Women still have not achieved equal pay in the workplace nor are they represented in sufficient numbers in senior positions - it is up to us to ensure that we continue to fight to reach our goals.
"The gender equality duty will be a crucial step forward when it comes into force in April. By requiring public bodies to publish a gender equality scheme and an equal pay statement, the duty will ensure that gender equality issues cannot be ignored. But these duties are only a means towards an end, the success will be marked by the positive outcomes we are striving to achieve."
Background to equality duty
- The specific duties for Scotland were laid before the Parliament on February 1 and come into force on April 9.
- The general duty, to promote equality of opportunity between women and men and to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment, comes into force on April 6.
- The duty marks the biggest shake-up of the sex-equality legislation in three years.
- Scotland has taken a different approach to the duty and has developed different duties in addition to those that will be observed by listed British, English and Welsh bodies.
- Scottish listed bodies, in addition to the requirement to publish a gender equality scheme, will have to publish an equal pay policy statement.
- Scottish Ministers have also agreed to be subject to a Ministerial duty. This duty requires Scottish Ministers to identify priority areas where gender equality could be progressed. They must also report on progress in these priority areas, every three years.