THE Scottish Government is being challenged to ensure new laws to protect against misogyny are in place for next year’s International Women’s Day.
The Greens made the plea in the wake of a “global revival of misogynistic behaviour”, which the party claimed had been “inflamed” by US President Donald Trump’s administration and others.
The party’s equalities spokeswoman, Maggie Chapman, warned: “Women’s hard-won rights are not immune to this dangerous agenda.”
Raising the issue on International Women’s Day on Saturday, she claimed updates on Scottish Government proposals to legislate to tackle the problem have been “few and far between”.
Ministers had used International Women’s Day two years ago to launch a consultation on a series of proposed reforms, including making stirring up hatred against women or girls a new offence.
The consultation also raised the prospect of making it a specific crime to send threatening or abusive messages to women and girls which refer to rape, sexual assault or disfigurement.
The changes were proposed after the Government commissioned barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy KC to lead research into misogyny in Scotland.
Misogyny is defined as being a hatred for, or prejudice against, women or girls – with Chapman (above) arguing: “There has been a global revival of misogynistic behaviour, which has been inflamed by the Trump administration and the far-right movement that it represents.
“The Scottish Government must ensure that these laws are introduced and in place by next year’s International Women’s Day.
“These laws have been a long time coming, but updates have been few and far between.
“Last year the Scottish Government dropped its commitment to deliver a much-anticipated Human Rights Bill. We cannot allow that to happen again.
“Legislation is only part of the picture, but when people are getting away with misogynistic abuse and violence without any recourse, it will be an important part.
“This bill must be part of a bigger institutional and cultural change that we need to see across society.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “With the Supreme Court still considering a case concerning the definition of women and girls, it will be important to consider any implications of that judgment before any legislation on misogyny is introduced.”
