An expert group is to be established to advise the Scottish Government on the banning of conversion practices, which aim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The group will include people with personal experience of conversion practices as well as representatives from LGBTI organisations, faith and belief communities, mental health professionals and academics.
The Scottish Government has committed to introducing legislation to end conversion practices as comprehensively as possible within devolved powers by the end of 2023.
It is anticipated the expert advisory group will begin its work early next year and this, alongside recommendations from the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee and other evidence and research, will inform the Scottish Government’s approach.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We are clear about the need to end conversion practices in Scotland – ensuring that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is safe from them. These practices are harmful, discriminatory, and have no place in our society.
“Work is now underway to establish an expert advisory group on banning conversion therapy and its remit will include recommending an agreed definition of conversion practices.
“We will explore how legislation can best protect and support those who need it, while ensuring that freedoms – including freedoms of speech, religion, and belief – are safeguarded.
“We are also considering what non-legislative steps we can take to end conversion practices, and support survivors.”
The 2021-22 Programme for Government commitment to end conversion practices is also part of the shared policy programme between the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party.
The remit of the new expert advisory group will include:
recommending an agreed definition of conversion practices;
drawing together existing data and evidence on conversion practices, including international practice;
advising on potential actions to ban, end, or reduce conversion practices;
advising on support for victims and survivors;
advising on aligning any ban with commitments to protect freedom of expression and freedom of religion, in line with existing legislation;
advising on how mental health services, religious bodies and other professionals should be supported to provide appropriate services to people seeking help and advice in relation to their sexual orientation or gender identity
First round of £10 million funding for groups affected by pandemic
Projects supporting carers and disabled people are among nine initiatives that are set to share £1 million to tackle loneliness and isolation as a result of the pandemic.
It comes as part of a £10 million commitment to support a new five-year social isolation and loneliness plan, and marks the delivery of a commitment for the first 100 days of this government.
The funding was announced by Minister for Equalities and Older People Christina McKelvie on a visit to meet members of the Glasgow Disability Alliance, which is receiving money for initiatives including one-to-one counselling and online courses designed to help disabled people stay connected.
Other organisations to benefit include Youthlink, which will receive funding to help young people, and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, which will use the additional money for its Kindness Caller programme.
Ms McKelvie said: “Research has shown that loneliness and social isolation have increased for some during the pandemic, and we know this has disproportionately affected young people, carers and those with disabilities.
“Whether by providing access to counselling, learning opportunities or just a friendly voice to talk to over the phone, this new funding will help ensure people can stay connected and get the support they need.
“Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone and can have a harmful effect on people’s health and wellbeing. That is why we are developing a new five-year plan and we will invest £10 million across this parliament.”
Tressa Burke, Glasgow Disability Alliance Chief Executive, said: “We welcome this funding to mitigate brutal inequalities supercharged by the pandemic on disabled people.
“Our member survey and engagement revealed that 82% worry about social isolation and loneliness, 60% face digital exclusion, 80% don’t know where to turn to for help and 90% are worried about physical and mental health.
“The funding enables us to provide vital lifelines, programmes and support including digital coaching, wellbeing support and access to online activities which build confidence, connections and ensure the ongoing contributions of disabled people.”
Tim Frew, YouthLink Scotland Chief Executive, said: “We are not all in the same boat in the storm. The evidence is that this pandemic has been particularly tough on the wellbeing of young people in some of our most marginalised and disenfranchised communities.
“This disproportionate impact must be addressed, to ensure every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
“The youth work sector welcomes this fund from the Scottish Government, which will help to identify young people who have been coping with multiple challenges, such as young carers, and develop projects and programmes to meet their needs.”
The organisations to receive funding are:
Age Scotland
Befriending Networks
British Red Cross
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
Glasgow Disability Alliance
Homestart
Intercultural Youth Scotland
MECOPP
Youthlink Scotland
Within the first 100 days of this government Ministers committed to start work to develop a new five-year social isolation and loneliness plan backed by £10 million over five years focused on reconnecting people as Scotland comes out of the pandemic and tackling loneliness head on.
This is in addition to the more than £6 million investment to promote equality, social isolation and loneliness, and to promote digital inclusion through the Scottish Government’s winter package of support.
The Scottish Government also invested £4.3 million to tackle social isolation and loneliness through digital inclusion via the Connecting Scotland programme.
Couples across Scotland will be able to enter mixed-sex civil partnerships from June 30, and can submit a notice of intention now.
The introduction of mixed sex civil partnerships means that both mixed sex and same sex couples can now choose to marry or enter a civil partnership.
Minister for Equalities Christina McKelvie said: “I welcome the introduction of civil partnerships for all couples.
“We have now embedded equality of choice on how to formalise their relationship in the way that best reflects their beliefs and ensures access to the rights, responsibilities and benefits which flow from entering a legally recognised relationship.
“This ground-breaking change in law demonstrates our commitment to creating a fairer and more inclusive society for all.
“I wish good luck to all couples who are entering Scotland’s first mixed-sex civil partnerships.”
Minister for Equalities Kemi Badenoch MP and COVID hero GP, Dr Farzana Hussain, have issued a joint call for everyone to take the vaccine when they are offered it.
As Government publishes third report on COVID-19 disparities, the Minister for Equalities and hero GP, Dr Farzana Hussain, issue a joint call for everyone to take the vaccine when they are offered it.
Evidence shows vaccine confidence has steadily increased among ethnic minorities.
This follows flexible vaccine delivery, and targeted communications from government and medical professionals, and partnerships with broadcasters.
The call comes as data shows vaccine confidence has steadily increased following government action, with 93% of adults reporting positive sentiment towards the vaccine. However, some groups are still less likely to get the jab. 30% of Black or Black British adults reported vaccine hesitancy, the highest compared with all ethnic groups.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has prioritised people based on age, with older people being offered the vaccination first. As the UK’s White population makes up a greater number of those in the older age categories, the percentage of those who have already received vaccinations is higher when compared with ethnic minority groups.
As the vaccine is rolled out to younger age groups the Government will continue its targeted action to ensure that ethnic minority people are willing to take the jab.
Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, said: “We are taking the vital action necessary to protect our families, communities and the country from the scourge of COVID-19. Our positive progress deploying the vaccine and promoting confidence in it has been a tireless, collective effort, from faith leaders, voluntary groups and the NHS all working together in every community to turn back the tide of COVID-19.
“We are not complacent and we will continue to tackle dangerous disinformation and work with trusted partners to promote confidence in the vaccine so everyone takes up their jab when they are offered it.
“Vaccines are the key to unlocking a return to normal life, and this Government will continue to do everything it can to ensure everyone is confident to take them.”
‘Hero’ GP, Dr Farzana Hussain, whose tireless efforts during the pandemic – including online campaigning and debunking of misinformation, and personally calling scores of patients who have yet to take the jab – have been key to fighting the virus, said: “It is really important that everyone takes the vaccine – unless all of us are protected, none of us are protected.
“The vaccines are very safe – they have been trialled on hundreds of thousands of volunteers by world-leading scientists, and now millions of doses have been given, just in the UK alone. I urge everyone to take the jab when they are offered it.”
Alongside this the Minister for Equalities will today publish the third quarterly report to the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary on progress to understand and tackle COVID-19 disparities experienced by individuals from ethnic minority groups.
The report sets out the swift and flexible action Government has taken to protect people, adapting the vaccine programme as it has rolled out to ensure everyone feels safe and able to get the vaccine, without being stigmatised.
Dr Masood Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer for the Black Country and West Birmingham CCG said: “We have strong, resilient communities and have been able to address vaccine hesitancy by connecting with people, listening to fears, and having meaningful conversations in order to reduce barriers, which is key for longer term sustainable solutions to address wider health inequalities.
“It’s so important that we share learnings to understand and address the health inequalities that COVID-19 has highlighted, and whilst we have had some success in reaching people and communities, there is still opportunity to do more.”
Dr Rohini Mathur, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “This report highlights the positive impact of increasing vaccine confidence in minority ethnic groups across England and points towards the importance of understanding the complex interaction between socio-economic, geographic, and health related factors in explaining disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The report sets out the following next steps:
The Minister for Equalities to share the findings of her third quarterly report with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to consider how to apply the findings of the review of experiences of frontline healthcare workers and the UK-REACH study.
NHS England’s published data on vaccination uptake by ethnicity should be further disaggregated to provide percentage uptake by vaccine priority group cohorts and sex. This should include levels of unknown ethnicity and an assessment of how this might affect the interpretation of vaccination uptake for different ethnic groups.
NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) should publish data about the use of the NHS COVID-19 app by different ethnic groups. This will inform activity to increase the uptake and continued use of the app.
DHSC and NHS should further investigate practical barriers to vaccine uptake by ethnicity to assess and address any intention-action gap.
DHSC should ensure that NHS organisations and GPs are provided with clear guidance and protocols about how ethnicity should be requested and recorded in health records.
RDU should engage with the Office for Statistics Regulation about priorities for improving the quality (including harmonisation, robustness and reliability) of ethnicity data on health records, drawing on others’ expertise as appropriate, and report back in the final quarterly report.
The Minister for Equalities and the Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment will continue a programme of engagement in the next 3 months, focusing on promoting vaccine uptake and encouraging asymptomatic testing, particularly for those within higher risk occupations, as sectors reopen.
As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, the government’s Vaccine Confidence campaign will aim to inform, educate and empower those aged 18 to 50 to take up their vaccine. Using the tagline ‘Every Vaccination Gives Us Hope’ content will take an optimistic tone, aiming to reach and persuade younger audiences, including ethnic minority groups.
At each step of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, tailored guidance and communications will continue to be shared through community and media channels to maximise reach and impact.
Communications
To drive forward uptake of the vaccine, the government has prioritised communications with ethnic minority people across the UK, that includes:
A partnership with 12 community radio stations, which has delivered key messages about vaccines in 13 different languages to 1.5 million people.
Television partnerships with 21 multicultural TV networks, delivering 30 second adverts on 43 TV stations in 9 languages, reaching approximately 3 million people each week.
A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport social media campaign to tackle false vaccine information, which has been shared with more than 4 million people through community and local networks, reaching people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Ethnic minority medical professionals promoting facts and dispelling myths about the vaccines online, including a series of videos with Dr Amir Khan, a GP from Yorkshire, whose video on the vaccine being halal reached more than 330,000 people.
A programme of Ministerial engagement, including a roundtable with Black African and Black Caribbean Faith Leaders and GPs, recognising the important role that churches play in promoting vaccine uptake amongst their congregations.
Celebrities and influencers, including Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain, backing the NHS COVID-19 vaccine drive.
A short film backed by the NHS based on an open letter signed by Sir Lenny Henry and a range of high-profile celebrities encouraging Black adults in the UK to make informed decisions about the vaccine.
A new campaign building on the City of Edinburgh Council’s work to create an inclusive and diverse workplace has been launched.
Designed to foster a culture where all people feel their differences are valued, respected and accepted, Inclusivedinburgh will highlight the many benefits that a diverse workforce brings.
Guided by the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy which was approved by councillors last year, the City is working to attract and retain a representative Council workforce which reflects the diversity of Edinburgh’s citizens. It is hoped that the internal campaign will help to make sure that everyone’s voices are heard and that all employees feel welcome.
Councillor George Gordon, Equalities ‘Champion’ for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’ve worked extremely hard to grow as an inclusive employer and bring our diversity and inclusion strategy to life.
“Following many months of meetings, I’ve seen firsthand how this has involved tremendous efforts by our HR team and our colleague networks plus input from unions. I’m pleased to have been involved and I’d like to thank everyone who has got us to this point.
“It’s fantastic to now see all of the measures we’ve put into place brought together under Inclusivedinburgh. We’re committed to advancing equalities in everything we do and there is no better place to further foster an inclusive culture than within our own workplace. We are a disability friendly employer and we have solid networks in place to support all colleagues to achieve their best. Our LGBT+ and BAME networks are also thriving.
From developing our understanding of colleagues’ personal situations to creating our own benchmarking tool so that we can keep track of progress – we’re continuously bettering our policies and recognising the value of a diverse workforce. This campaign is about sharing best practice and helping staff while also striving to be even better.
“We’re proud of how far we’ve come and this new campaign helps our ambitions for workplace equality to stand out. For Edinburgh to be a fair City, we must do all we can to improve the quality of life for those who face inequality. Better still, we must aim to stamp out discrimination and prejudice, wherever it occurs.”
Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Chair of the Council’s Cross Party Working Group on Equalities, said: “As the City of Edinburgh Council, and as a major employer, it is vital to listen and to learn from the lived experience of colleagues from groups which are under-represented in our workforce and our city.
“The enthusiasm and participation of staff in our LGBT+ and our BAME colleague networks has been and continues to be crucial to how well we listen, learn, and respond proactively in our efforts to ensure we are an employer, in both word and deed, which values diversity and difference as a strength and key measure of our organisational health.
“I warmly welcome the launch of the Inclusivedinburgh campaign to promote respect and equality within and throughout all management tiers and service areas of the Council. This cements our commitment to attracting and retaining a workforce more reflective of all the Edinburgh citizens we represent and serve.
“Recent progress towards this includes introducing guidance and support for those who are transitioning; and those who are going through the menopause; Unconscious Bias e-learning for Council managers is also happening which supports our aim that no-one experiences discrimination of any sort during our recruitment process; and creating and circulating a colleague calendar which raises awareness of dates and events of particular significance throughout the year, for example, Ramadan and Carers Week.”
The Edinburgh City Vision 2050 states that Edinburgh aspires to be a fair, inspired, thriving and connected city. The Inclusivedinburgh campaign aims to work towards that vision and the Council’s ambition to place respect, equality and rights at the heart of the workplace.
Commenting on the brand, staff member Bobby Nwanze said: “As the chair of the Council’s BAME colleague Network, it’s refreshing to receive such amazing support.
“Working closely to promote cultural awareness and tackle discrimination in the workplace will help us to become a truly diverse Council.”
Equalities ‘champion’ George Gordon explained this further when he wrote in the Evening News this week: “To become a fairer city where everyone can benefit from Edinburgh’s success, we need to take united action against inequality.
“So, as we rebuild our communities and the economy from the COVID-19 crisis, we’ll be taking lessons learned from lockdown and listening intently to the voices of residents from our minority and traditionally disadvantaged groups. We have a chance to shape a ‘new normal’ for the city and this is an opportunity we will not miss.
“Within the Council, we’re already seeking out views from our colleague networks on how we can better promote diversity and inclusion amongst staff and in our recruitment processes. Just this week we’ve launched a new campaign to highlight the policies we have in place to make our workplace culture one of the most inclusive in Scotland.
“The Poverty Commission is pulling together feedback from people who have been unfairly disadvantaged by COVID-19 and I’m in touch with equalities networks to truly understand how certain groups have been impacted.
“We’re on the cusp of a global recession and we need to make sure we put the right measures in place to support people at risk of unemployment or reduced opportunities, so that we can aim to create a more level playing field in a post-COVID economy.
“During the last few months, we saw our usual way of life and leisure activities taken away from us. But not being able to enjoy society fully with a trip to the theatre or day out with family is a battle people with certain disabilities face year in, year out.
“That’s why the Scottish-government backed Spaces for People programme which promotes wheelchair and wider access to high streets and other parts of the city is such an important measure for Edinburgh. As businesses re-open again, we want to make sure everyone can get out of lockdown and enjoy everything which makes Edinburgh such a great city to live in.
“All of us have also experienced a very different type of August without the buzz and packed High Street of the Fringe. And, as we develop plans for re-introducing events next year and designing our winter festivals, we also need to push for accessible routes for those who need them.
“Of course, our moves to make Edinburgh a more disabled friendly and equal city are not merely a response to the current crisis. This is something I’ve been championing since coming into my Equalities role and we’ve worked hard to highlight the rights and needs of disadvantaged residents in everything we do.
“Our ban on ‘A’ boards has been hailed as a success by equalities groups like the RNIB and Edinburgh Access Panel. I’m proud that Edinburgh was the first city to introduce this. We were also the first to bring in new-build planning rules to promote the latest, safest design for disabled residents.
“Personally, I’m pleased we were also able to reach an agreement on necessary wheelchair spaces on buses and our swift and ongoing response to the Black Lives Matter movement is also going to change our City for the better.
“I stand ready to advocate for what we need to keep achieving, now and over the next 12 months to come.”
Edinburgh’s Equality and Rights’ Network (EaRN) has launched Voices of Edinbugh, an exhibition designed to promote dialogue about equality and rights issues in the city. The exhibition opened on Friday and will run until 2 July in Gallery 3 of EdinburghPalette.Continue reading What does equality mean to you?
A total of 224 projects from across the country will benefit from more than £20 million in funding to drive forward Scotland’s equality agenda in 2016-17. The projects will work with individuals, families, children and communities to address inequality and discrimination.Continue reading £20 million to support equality initiatives
Edinburgh’s Equality and Rights’ Network (EaRN) aims to support and further partnership working between grassroots groups and organisations, and public services and community planners, with the aims of advancing equality, promoting human rights and tackling poverty and inequality in the city.Continue reading EARN to hold Open Event
