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This is the first 5 year Programme for Government, & more detail will emerge, so make sure you follow us to stay updated on our work for a feminist future in Scotland.

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Unpaid care is a major barrier to women's financial equality & we saw no new commitments to invest in & better support Scotland's unpaid carers. Lastly, there was no mention of work to reform PSED in Scotland, which we have long-campaigned for alongside many other equalities organisations.

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There were some concerning gaps. There was no mention of abortion care or abortion law reform in the Programme. Scotland is now the only part of the UK where women & pregnant people can be criminalised for ending a pregnancy & we need urgent action to reform the law.

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Similarly, we welcome the announced £13m investment to reduce gynaecology waiting times, but we still need further funding to implement the full list of actions in the Women's Health Plan.

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The expansion of childcare provision by the end of parliament is awelcome move. We're also pleased to see a strong focus from the First Minister on ending VAWG, but this needs to be backed up by investment in primary prevention of VAWG to drive long-term change.

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Protests and Suffragettes @scotsuffragette.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

What's in the Programme for Government for women in Scotland? This week saw the launch of the Scottish Government's first 5-year Programme for Government 2026-31. There were plenty of welcome commitments, but key areas of women's equality weren't addressed 🧵⬇

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Reposted by Engender

The Fight Against Misogyny Didn't Begin Today When Scottish suffragettes took to the streets, chained themselves to railings, endured imprisonment and hunger strikes, it wasn’t simply demanding the vote.

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Women's poverty is preventable. Head to our website to read our report & see why we're calling for the new Scottish Government & Scottish Parliament to adopt a 5 point plan to eliminate the gender income gap & prevent destitution for women & their children: www.engender.org.uk/cwp-reports/

Confronting women’s poverty: It’s time to confront women’s poverty

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We need solutions that are designed for all women. We need decision-makers to confront women’s poverty in a practical, transformative way.

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Women’s financial inequality has been accepted by our politicians & by our society more broadly. Disabled women, women of colour, migrant women, lone parents & unpaid carers are some of those most acutely harmed by this inequality. Enough is enough.

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We live in an age of crisis, which impacts women hardest. It's outrageous that women still do not have equal access to resources in modern Scotland. Gender inequality, combined with socio-economic crises & public service cuts, have deepened women’s poverty.

Graphic with a border of elements linked to women's financial inequality and illustrations of diverse women with black text that reads New report shows women in Scotland are living in worsening poverty and finacial insecurity

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📰 Did you catch the exclusive coverage of Confronting Women's Poverty in @scotsman.com last week? To close the gender income gap, decision-makers need to do more to better understand & respond to the root causes of women’s financial inequality. ➡️ Read it here: www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

The graphic shows a purple background with a screenshot of a news article from The Scotsman website. The headline reads Exclusive: Women in Scotland suffering 'income crisis caused by misogynistic political choices', and is illustrated by a photo of a woman emptying coins out of a coin purse with a Scottish flag design on it. The article is by Catriona Stewart

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See our Confronting Women's Poverty series & read our intro paper here: www.engender.org.uk/cwp/

Confronting women’s poverty

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We're calling for: 1️⃣ A Taskforce on women’s poverty 2️⃣ A Women’s Equality Fund offering crisis support for marginalised women 3️⃣ A Minimum Income Guarantee for unpaid carers 4️⃣ A roadmap to a universal childcare system for all 5️⃣ Overhaul of the public sector equality duty

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Ineffective policy, decision-making, & responses to crises like the Covid-19 pandemic & rising cost of living have entrenched women’s poverty, with disabled women, women of colour, migrant women, lone parents & unpaid carers among those most acutely harmed by this inequality.

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

📢 It's time to confront women's poverty in Scotland. Today, we're launching our new series, Confronting Women’s Poverty, outlining our 5-point plan of action to eliminate the gender income gap & prevent destitution for women & their children. 🧵⬇

Graphic with text that reads Confronting Women's Poverty with an illustrated border featuring diverse women's faces and elements related to women's financial inequality

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New on the blog, we're pleased to publish a guest post from Independent Age exploring the links between pensions & gender inequality, & how the rising cost of living is affecting older women in Scotland. Head to our blog to find out more: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/gu...

The graphic shows a photo of on older woman looking at a bill with concern overlaid with a translucent filter and dark teal left-aligned text quote that reads "It’s clear from the 2026 Index that many older people, especially women, live on incomes that aren’t enough to live a decent and dignified later life. ". The quote is attributed to Louise Brady, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Independent Age. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic are the Independent Age and Engender logos.

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As we move towards the 2027 local council elections, it's vital that the gendered power imbalances, lack of accountability & inadequate support systems we heard about in our report are addressed if we want to encourage more women to enter politics & retain those already there.

A graphic with elements of the abuse and harassment women councillors face with text that reads "I think every woman I know has experienced some form of violence... So I think that every woman councillor in Scotland has experienced it. [...] But I think it's just part of the job. It is part of the job."

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Existing procedures often fail to adequately address the complex nature of the gendered violence women councillors experience, especially when the perpetrator is another councillor.

A graphic with elements of the abuse and harassment women councillors face with text that reads "They're very dismissive of online bullying and harassment, but every single female councillor I know has experienced it. Every single one."

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Many councillors told us that their experiences of sexism, misogyny & violence had forced them to become quieter, led to other forms of exclusion or resulted in them leaving politics altogether. This is deeply concerning because women make up just 35% of all councillors elected in Scotland in 2022.

A graphic with elements of the abuse and harassment women councillors face with text that reads "I think it's all the time, particularly as I said, those microaggressions, the low-level cultural stuff that, you know, if I challenged it, I would do nothing else."

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Women’s participation in local democracy & critical decision-making about public services is being undermined by frequent incidents of sexism, misogyny & violence. Our latest report shows that almost 1 in 3 women councillors (30%) would not recommend being a councillor to other women.

A graphic with elements of the abuse and harassment women councillors face with text that reads We asked women councillors from across Scotland about their experiences of violence in politics

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The rise of far-right & divisive political rhetoric is a threat to women's equality, but also to the dignity & safety of our wider communities. We're committed to building an intersectional, feminist future for Scotland & we're proud to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community in celebration & solidarity.

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

As the political context grows more complex & threats to equality increase, it's more important than ever that we show up in love, strength & solidarity with Scotland's LGBTQIA+ community.

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Some of the Engender team took part in the annual Pride March in Edinburgh last weekend, & we're sharing a few reflections as we near the end of Pride Month. 🧵⬇

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Our Executive Director has written a piece in @scotnational.bsky.social sharing women councillors' experiences of misogyny & violence from our latest research. We need urgent action to prevent VAW in local democracy in Scotland. Read the full piece here: www.thenational.scot/politics/262...

The graphic shows a purple background with a screenshot of a news article from The National website. The headline reads Comment Misogyny is silencing women councillors in Scotland, and is illustrated by a picture of a memorial to Jo Cox MP. The Article is by Catherine Murphy, Executive Director at Engender

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Join Women Against the Far Right Scotland and others gathering this Saturday at 1pm in Leith to stand together and push back against those who seek to spread fear and hatred.

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Individuals that enact or promote violence on our streets and seek to terrorise communities, can never be considered protectors of women. In doing so they make our streets, & women’s lives, less safe.

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We call on all elected representatives & the media to show leadership, promote social cohesion & ensure those who stoke division are held to account.

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Emma Macdonald @emmamacdonald.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Our statement following the horrific attacks in Leith this weekend. There can be no doubt that the xenophobic, hateful rhetoric that is worsening online, in media, and from some politicians, is increasingly putting individuals and communities at risk.

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Reposted by Engender

An important read before the next council elections. It simply isn't acceptable what some people have to endure while trying to do their best to represent their communities. It is no wonder some people have had enough.

Scottish Women's Budget Group @swbg.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Reposted by Engender

This important report by Engender, highlights that "sexism, misogyny and gender-based violence are part of the everyday reality of being a woman councillor" and how the need for systemic change is urgent.

Equality Network @lgbtiscotland.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Reposted by Engender

Engender have launched their new report today, revealing the appalling extent of misogyny, harassment & abuse that women councillors face in Scotland. Read it here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/ni...

Engender blog | Nine in ten women councillors have experienced sexism, misogyny or violence in Scottish local politics, our new report reveals

violence against women, vawg, scotland, councils, scottish government, womens rights, equality

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Today we’ve launch new research on the endemic sexism, misogyny & gender-based violence that 90% of women councillors in Scotland are experiencing. The is completely unacceptable. Find our summary and full report here - www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/ni...

Engender blog | Nine in ten women councillors have experienced sexism, misogyny or violence in Scottish local politics, our new report reveals

violence against women, vawg, scotland, councils, scottish government, womens rights, equality

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Tara Lillis @taralillis.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

How do we solve misogyny in Scotland's health system? We're delighted to publish a guest blog from @vhscotland.bsky.social on new research showing that women frequently report having their pain or symptoms minimised, leading to delays in treatment. Read it here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/in...

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Reposted by Engender

STUC women’s committee were delighted that the STUC co-badged this call. Women’s health has been overlooked for too long. @scottishtuc.bsky.social

We're urging the First Minister to reinstate a dedicated Minister for Women’s Health, which would provide the leadership, accountability & visibility that women’s healthcare so desperately needs & deserves. Read the full @heraldscotland.bsky.social piece here: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2617658...

Graphic with the logos of the organisations who signed the letter and text that reads We are calling on the First mInister to reinstate the role of Women's Health Minister

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At a time when women’s healthcare in Scotland faces sustained challenges, we believe that a lack of explicit ministerial responsibility risks undermining progress, reducing accountability & signals that improving women’s health is no longer a priority for this government.

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Humanist Society Scotland @humanistsociety.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Women's health should not be deprioritised. We've joined healthcare bodies & women’s rights orgs to express our deep concern about removal of the Women’s Health Minister role following the appointment of new Scottish Government Cabinet & Ministers. Read more: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2617658...

The graphic shows a purple background with a screenshot of a news article from The Herald website. The headline reads Exclusive John Swinney warned after axing women's health minister role, and is illustrated by a picture of First Minister John Swinney

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Reposted by Engender

Have you seen the Herald exlclusive this morning? We're amongst the 36 organisations who have written to First Minister John Swinney urging him to reinstate a women's health minister. www.bpas.org/about-bpas/p... #WomensHealth #AbortionRights @engenderscot.bsky.social @bpas.bsky.social

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

📢 If we want women to stay in politics, we have to fix the conditions that are driving them away. See exclusive coverage of our new report on why women MSPs are standing down & how we can tackle it in @scotnational.bsky.social. Read the full piece here: www.thenational.scot/news/2611801...

The graphic shows a purple background with a screenshot of a news article from The National website. The headline reads Exclusive Holyrood urged to act over 'toxic' culture after drop in women MSPs. The article is by Abbi Garton Crosbie and is illustrated by a photo of the Scottish Parliament

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

📰 Research shows record number of women MSPs standing down ahead of election 5 main reasons women MSPs gave were: 1️⃣ Work/Life balance 2️⃣ Length of time away from family 3️⃣ Demands on time beyond working hours 4️⃣ Misogynist abuse 5️⃣ Threats to safety Read more here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/re...

Graphic with an illustrated border of elements affecting women MSPs decisions to stand down including abusive messages on social media, time pressures, behaviour in parliament, caring responsibilities and more with text that reads New report on what we can do about women MSPs standing down

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Reposted by Engender

Humanist Society Scotland @humanistsociety.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Help us reach 1000 members. Lets change the act together! SIGN UP HERE: www.letschangetheact.co.uk/involved-mem... #DecriminaliseAbortion #LetsChangeTheAct @letschangetheact @engenderscot.bsky.social

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

📢 Our latest research shows that 40% of women MSPs have chosen not to stand for re-election. Steps for action: 📈 Increase women's participation & retention 🚫 Tackle VAWG, misogyny & abuse 🏛️ Balance family life & work 💬 Build long-term culture change Read more: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/re...

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Engender @engenderscot.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

UPDATE: A technical issue with our website that was causing issues with emails to candidates has been fixed. If you tried to send an email over the weekend, please give it another go!