Tag: International Womens Day

Support for women in conflict resolution

First Minister marks International Women’s Day

First Minister John Swinney has reaffirmed Scotland’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership in conflict resolution, as Scotland marks International Women’s Day.

The First Minister confirmed the Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship programme will receive continued Scottish Government funding as part of a new £400,000 programme to support peacebuilding organisations in Scotland.

Delivered by Scotland-based NGO Beyond Borders and the University of Edinburgh Law School, the Fellowship has trained more than 360 women peacebuilders from 40 conflict-affected countries across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America since 2017.

It is named after the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which marks its 25th anniversary this year.

First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland has a proud history of championing peace, democracy, and human rights. On International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to international peacebuilding and ensuring women have a central role in that process.

“We know when women are involved in peace processes, the outcomes are fairer and longer lasting. Ensuring women’s participation is therefore not just a moral imperative, but a strategic necessity for achieving sustainable peace.

“That is why I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government is extending its support for the Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme.

“At a time of heightened global conflict – and when investments in overseas aid are being cut elsewhere – Scotland is proud to support the role of women in international peacebuilding efforts and sharing our values of democracy and devolution to help others build lasting, peaceful societies.”

Mark Muller Stuart KC, Founder and Director of Beyond Borders Scotland, said: “Beyond Borders Scotland is delighted to have secured renewed funding for the world-renowned Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme which is about to enter its 10th year and has done so much to support women’s presence within peace processes around the globe.

“The Scottish Government’s announcement of this exciting award on International Women’s Day is a fitting tribute to the tireless efforts of women peacemakers and builders working around the world to help their communities emerge from conflict as well an appropriate celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ground-breaking passing of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 calling for greater women’s participation in peace processes.”

Professor Jo Shaw, Head of Edinburgh Law School, said: “At a time when armed conflicts are becoming more complex, the University of Edinburgh welcomes the Scottish Government’s unwavering commitment to inclusive peacebuilding.

“Globally, women are disproportionately affected by conflict and often denied full roles in local, national, and international peacebuilding efforts.

“We look forward to continuing our work with the Women in Conflict Fellows and Scottish peacebuilding community to increase the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding, and to amplify the voices of Scotland-based actors in international conflict resolution. We thank the Scottish Government for taking the initiative and supporting this important work.”

Leith Arches gig and workshop to celebrate International Women’s Day

Sunday 9th March
GIG 7-10pm / Workshop 3-5pm
Leith Arches 6 Manderson Steet EH6 8LY

EMERGING ‘Woman band’ Machine Orchid are hosting an event to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.

MACHINE ORCHID  are Aurora Engine Harp, synths /  vocals, Caro Bridges guitar / vocals and Emma Lloyd Violin, vocals and electronics.

All profits will go to WOMEN’S AID EDINBURGH. 

Other sets will come from harpist ESTHER SWIFT, folk singer KIRSTY LAW and Glasgow artists CURLEW. 

Blending electronics and real instruments MACHINE ORCHID will present a set focused on women’s rights to include an acapella protest song ‘3 Rings’ about women’s safety / victim blaming, ‘Sharks, Bears Wolves,’ a song about toxic masculinity.

Sprinkled with  electonic fizzles, polyrhythms their pefomance will also embed an electronic soundscape made up of Trump’s comments on women – ‘In His Own Words’.

In the afternoon the group will host an interactive women focused dynamic and empowering singing workshop that explores what it means to be a woman in 2025. 

TICKET LINK HERE 

Woman band ‘Machine Orchid’ (Aurora Engine / Emma Lloyd / Caro Bridges) Host International Women’s Day gig and singing workshop raising money for WOMEN’S AID

Machine Orchid are an emerging ‘woman band’ from Edinburgh blending harp, guitar, and violin with lush harmonies, electronic fizzles, and a deep connection
to the natural world made up of Emma Lloyd (contemporary composer and violinist, harpist Aurora Engine /Deborah Shaw (“Magical and Delicate’” Tom Robinson) and Caro Bridges, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter.

The one off International Women’s day gig also hosts trailblazing harpist harpist Esther Swift, provocative folk singer Kirsty Law and the Glasgow based roots and electronic artist Curlew (Gill Higgins).

In the afternoon the band who are all composers and choral leaders will host an interactive women focused dynamic and empowering singing workshop that explores what it means to be a woman in 2025.

Through songs addressing themes like women’s safety and the impact of the Trump era on women’s rights, this two-hour afternoon session aims to inspire, uplift and unite.

TICKET LINK HERE 

The Causey welcomes hundreds of supporters for International Women’s Day active travel event

On Friday 8 March Causey Development Trust welcomed over 200 visitors to The Causey for ‘Our Streets’, an event that transformed the area’s iconic architecture with colourful projected imagery inspired by active travel.

To create the stunning projections, artwork made by the community was animated by award-winning artists Robert Motyka and the Beetroots Collective team and was accompanied by a soundscape designed by Marta Adamowicz.

The individual lino–print artworks created at community workshops, were displayed in an exhibition held in the Southside Community Centre in advance of the event.

Robert Motyka, part of the Beetroots Collective responsible for creating the projections, said: “It was just fantastic to see so many people turn up, despite the cold and wind, to enjoy the Our Streets event.

“Not only that, but to have both Critical Mass and the Infra Sisters finish up their rides at our event – it was an honour, and goes to show that what The Causey is trying to do resonates with people across our local community and across the city.”

On the night the Infra Sisters, a group of women campaigning for night-time cycling infrastructure that’s safe and comfortable for women and girls, cycled into the Causey around 20:45 to huge dramatic effect, before enjoying the final viewing of the evening.

Committed to transforming this soulless traffic island and traffic dominated street in The Southside, into a place that prioritises pedestrians, active travel and the coming together of community, this is just one of a series of upcoming events to be hosted by Causey Development Trust in 2024.

Causey Development Trust hopes that capital works at The Causey will begin in 2025. For more information on the plans, created by local Landscape Architects Ironside Farrar, and how the Causey Development Trust reached this point, reached this point, visit www.thecausey.org 



For Activists Past, Present and Future

PLAQUE UNVEILED AT ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE

ROYSTON Wardieburn Community Centre’s management committee organised the unveiling of a plaque to mark North Edinburgh’s proud record of community activism on the eve of International Women’s Day.

RWCC Chair Billy Fitzpatrick, Willie Black and Cathie Ahmed were among the local people who spoke movingly and contributed poems on a special day.

The new plaque is situated alongside the cherry blossom tree planted to commemorate local activist Roberta Blaikie, and it was fitting that members of Roberta’s family attended to perform the unveiling just as the tree begins to bud once again.

Celebrate International Women’s Day at Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Celebrating some of Diageo’s most pioneering women, Johnnie Walker Princes Street is hosting an exclusive Spirited Women Tasting in its Explorers’ Bothy Bar on 8th-10th of March. 

Telling the stories of the influential women who have helped shape the face of Scotch whisky, the tasting features a welcome highball using an exclusive Johnnie Walker Princes Street blend created by Master Blender Emma Walker, and a Johnnie Walker Princes Street Cellar Blend prepared by Master Blender, Aimee Morrison. 

Featured in the tasting session will be the Cardhu 12, 200th anniversary release. Created to celebrate two of the original female whisky trailblazers, Helen and Elizabeth Cumming, this malt is strikingly smooth and characterised by beautiful berry and blackcurrant notes. 

Also making an appearance will be the Singleton of Glen Ord 2022 Special Release for a sweet and spicy fix, and the Dalwhinnie 17, 125th anniversary release which offers a famously spicy and fruity experience with strong vanilla notes. 

Priced at £55 per person, tickets for the event can be purchased online https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-gb/visit-us-princes-street/book-whisky-tasting/#id=spirited-women-an-international-women-s-day-tasting.

As well as the tour, visitors can also enjoy an exclusive 10% discount across the retail store on the day of their tour when they present their ticket.

This offers reduced prices for merchandise and products, including the Bottle Your Own experience, where customers can engrave products with personalised messaging.

The 10% discount is also extended to the 1820 Rooftop Bar, where guests can savour the panoramic views of the Edinburgh skyline with delectable food and drink. 

To check out other Johnnie Walker experiences, and for more information, please visit www.johnniewalkerprincesstreet.com

Scottish Government launches Women and Girls Fund

Commitment to enhance gender equality and women’s rights internationally

Women and girls in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia will be given the opportunity to design and deliver a new fund to advance gender equality and the rights of women and girls in their own countries.

The new Women and Girls Fund is supported by £3 million from the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund and will be delivered over four years.

The lead delivery partner for the Fund is the international research consultancy Ecorys, working in collaboration with FAWE (Forum for African Women Educationalists) in three of the Scottish Government’s International Development partner countries. The fund will take a participatory approach, being co-developed by women and girls, and women and girl-led organisations in the three countries.

International Development Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Gender inequality remains one of the greatest human rights challenges globally, and we must work together to address this.

“Reflecting our commitment to equalise power, the Women and Girls Fund will provide direct support to local women and girl-led organisations in our Sub-Saharan African partner countries.

“Direct funding is central to driving transformational change; this fund will empower women and girls, locally, to define and meet their own priorities.

“As we mark International Women’s Day, it is fitting that we launch this incredibly valuable programme, which puts feminist principles into action and will help us to advocate for a world without gender inequality.”

Ecorys Team Leader Mpala Nkonkomalimba said: “The funding opportunity cannot be coming at a more opportune time, as women and girls are still struggling to have voice in decision making processes and with the global economic downturn, they continue to be the face of poverty.

“Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) capacities to respond to the many emerging global and national issues affecting women and girls needs to be built and what is exciting is that the fund is planned to be participatory with CSOs themselves co-creating the funding mechanism.”

Edinburgh Napier put misunderstood condition PCOS in the spotlight ahead of International Women’s Day

A public event will bring together women with the condition, clinicians, researchers and support services


ENU’s Centre for Biomedicine and Global Health and PCOS Relief will host a public event with an expert panel on the eve of International Women’s Day.

Bringing together women with the condition, clinicians, researchers and support services, it will aim to discuss Polycystic Ovary Syndrome from the perspective of those diagnosed with it, and from the medical community.

The event will also highlight support that is currently available to those diagnosed with PCOS and consider new emerging research around it.

Mick Rae, Professor of Reproductive Biology at Edinburgh Napier, and event co-organiser said: “The aim of this event is to ensure PCOS is better understood, and more effectively supported. 

“By teaming up with PCOS Relief, we hope to drive awareness, understanding and support for all dealing with the condition.”

Chand Kaur, Founder and Chief Executive of PCOS Relief, will be on the expert panel. She said: “We set up PCOS Relief to provide support to women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, while advancing education, equality, and dedicated support services.

“This is the first event of its kind that we have ever put on, so have high hopes that it will help us achieve those aims.”

Professor Colin Duncan, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine in Edinburgh and expert panel member, who will address clinical and diagnostic aspects of the condition, said: “Polycystic ovary syndrome is a very common condition that isn’t talked about enough.

“There are a lot of myths about PCOS and educational events such as this can highlight what we know already about this condition, and what we need to focus on in the future”.

Dr Kasia Siemienowicz, Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University, will also appear on the expert panel to discuss new PCOS findings emerging from Edinburgh-based research. She said: “In addition to the more widely known impacts upon fertility, those with PCOS are at increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunctions and obesity.

“These issues can pose significant health, well-being, and economic burdens. Therefore it is critical to better understand PCOS, and ultimately, to advance future treatments.”

Campus building photography 2020 by Student Ambassador Adriana-Iloana Cosma. Craiglockhart iecture theatre interior.

Professor Peter Barlow, Director of Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Biomedicine and Global Health said: “Public-facing events like this, where individuals can share their experience of PCOS with researchers, clinicians, and the wider public, can encourage more holistic approaches to PCOS care and research.

“As a multi-disciplinary group of scientists focused upon understanding origins and causes of disease, we are absolutely delighted to work with the charity PCOS Relief to support this effort.”

Professor Anna Glasier OBE, Women’s Health Champion for Scotland said: “PCOS affects women throughout the life course with symptoms often starting in the teenage years. PCOS does not go away.

“Although the menstrual symptoms disappear with the menopause, postmenopausal women who have PCOS are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome and heart disease.

“The Women’s Health platform on NHS Inform now provides a lot of information on PCOS including a short, helpful video explaining what it is and what treatments may be useful.

“This platform, together with meetings like this one will help women and healthcare providers have a greater understanding of PCOS.”

Event details:

Date: Thursday 7th March 2024

Time: 6pm – 8:30pm

Venue: Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh Napier University Craiglockhart Campus, 219 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1DJ

TUC: Women 7 times more likely than men to be out of work due to caring commitments

New TUC analysis finds more than 1.46 million women are kept out of the labour market because of their caring responsibilities

  • Women in their 30s are hardest hit – one in 10 women in this age group drop out of the jobs market because of pressures of looking after their family 
  • Union body calls for funded childcare and flexible working rights for all to keep women in work and to address the gender pay gap 

Women are around seven times more likely than men to be out of the labour market due to caring commitments, according to a new analysis published by the TUC today (Wednesday). 

The analysis of official statistics – published as the annual TUC women’s conference starts in London today – finds that more than 1.46 million women are unable to work alongside their family commitments, compared to around 230,000 men. 

Women in their 30s hardest hit 

The research shows that women in their 30s are the hardest hit compared to men of the same age. 

One in 10 women in their 30s – more than 450,000 women – is out of the labour market because of caring responsibilities – compared to just one in 100 men in their 30s. 

So, women in their 30s are 10 times more likely than men to be unable to work due to family commitments at home. 

But at every age – from the very start right through to the end of their careers – women are more likely than men to have to drop out of paid work because of caring commitments. 

The TUC says that this illustrates that high-quality childcare that is free at the point of use should be available for all parents from the end of maternity leave to the end of primary school. This would help women stay in their jobs and continue with their careers once they have children. 

The union body also found that women shoulder most of the care for older and disabled relatives too. But the TUC warned that the staffing crisis in social care was making it harder for women to stay in work alongside their caring responsibilities.  

Women and low-paid work 

The new TUC analysis also finds that women are much more likely than men to be working in low-paid jobs – and are far less likely to be in high-paid work. 

Women make up two-thirds (65%) of the 10 lowest-paid occupations in the UK, like jobs in cleaning, catering and care. 

But less than two in five (39%) women are working in the 10 highest-paid occupations, in industries like finance, law and IT. 

Gender pay gap 

The gender pay gap for all employees currently stands at 14.9%, and it widens with age.  

Analysis published last month by the TUC found that this pay gap means that the average woman in paid employment effectively works for free for nearly two months (54 days) of the year, compared to the average man in paid employment. 

The union body says that at current rates of progress, it will take more than 20 years to close the gender pay gap. 

Flexible work 

Millions of people across the UK work flexibly. The TUC says that flexible work helps parents and carers balance their work and caring commitments and stay in their jobs. 

But a survey by the union body found that half of working mums don’t get the flexibility they request at work. 

The TUC says the law needs to be changed to require all jobs to be advertised with the possible flexible working options stated – and to give all workers the legal right to work flexibly from their first day in a job. 

Normalising and improving flexible working options would also encourage more men to take up these options and share caring responsibilities, says the TUC.

 TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Women shouldn’t have to give up or cut down paid work because they can’t find or afford the right care for their children or older or disabled relatives.  

“Too many women take a financial hit from caring for the rest of their lives – and it is a key driver of the gender pay gap. At the current rate of progress, it will be 20 years before women get pay parity with men. 

“We desperately need funded high-quality childcare for all families, free at the point of use, so women can stay in work once they have kids. 

“Ministers must change the law so that every single job is advertised with the possible flexible options stated, and all workers must have the legal right to work flexibly from their first day in a job. 

“And ministers must fix the staffing crisis in social care so every family can find and afford the social care they need.”  

Government action needed 

The TUC is calling on ministers to act now to keep women in work, make sure they are paid fairly, and to properly address the gender pay gap. The union body wants the government to: 

  • Introduce funded, high-quality childcare, available to all, free at the point of use. This would begin when paid maternity leave ends and would enable women to stay in work when they have children. 
  • Create greater flexibility in all jobs. There should be a duty on employers to list the possible flexible working options for each job when it is advertised. And all workers should have a day one right to work flexibly – not just the right to ask – unless the employer can properly justify why this is not possible. Workers should have the right to appeal any rejections. And there shouldn’t be a limit on how many times a worker can ask for flexible working arrangements in a single year. 
  • Strengthen gender pay gap reporting:  From 1 April 2017, the government ruled that large companies must publish information about the difference between average male and female earnings. The TUC believes the government must go further and wants employers to be made to carry out equal pay audits, and to produce action plans to close the pay gap in their workplace. The TUC also wants companies that fail to comply with the law to receive instant fines.  
  • Fix the staffing crisis in social care: There are a record 165,000 vacancies across adult social care. The TUC believes this is placing a huge strain on women with caring responsibilities for family members. The TUC says the government must work with unions and employers to tackle widespread insecure work and poverty pay in the sector which are driving high staff turnover rates. 

Our City: West African women artists exhibited at Gleneagles Townhouse for International Women’s Day

  • Edinburgh’s Gleneagles Townhouse partners with Aya Editions to celebrate IWD
    • New Exhibit Celebrating Scottish and West African female artist collective to open on International Women’s Day at the Townhouse

Throughout the month of March, West African female artists collective, Aya Editions, will be exhibiting ‘Our City’ at Gleneagles Townhouse’s Lobby 37 as its next exclusive cultural installation. The exhibition is available to view daily between 9am and 7pm for the public, and for members and hotel guests throughout their visit to Townhouse.

Aya Editions – a digital space that encourages and promotes West African female artists to showcase their work, combating inequalities in the creative industries – was co-founded by Carina Tenewaa Kanbi, an Edinburgh native of Scottish Ghanaian heritage, and Victoria Cooke in 2020.

Carina and Victoria recognised that women were underrepresented in West African visual arts so founded the collection to help female artists create, promote and sell their work. They believe women’s contribution to creating and safeguarding cultural heritage is so often obscured because of the social and institutional barriers they face to take part in creative industries. Carina and Victoria wanted to remove these barriers and encourage women to take part and continue to contribute to creative industries.

‘Our City’ captures the movements and moments of urban life across West African and Scottish cities and explores the real and imagined city through the lenses of seven young West African and Diasporan female photographers; Hady Barry, Keren Lasme, Clarissa Rötzel, ASK, Chantal Azari and Azumi. Final artist to be confirmed.

‘Our City’ follows each woman’s journey through their city and challenges the stories often told by men that came before them. In doing so, the images within the exhibit celebrate the female gaze, reminding us that among the chaos, there is calm. Through desperation, there is beauty; in mundanity, there is joy, play and patience. 

Whilst firmly rooted in these women’s experiences, ‘Our City’ moves beyond representation to explore the varied and divergent photographic practices that take us through fashion, landscape, photojournalism and street photography, reminding us that cities are neither static nor linear and that they are as much imagined as they are real.

Gleneagles Townhouse is celebrating the exhibition’s opening and International Women’s Day on the 8th of March with a special event exclusive to Townhouse Members. 

Aya Editions will host a panel discussion on the role of cultural and creative industries in promoting gender-inclusive cities and what we can do together to make a difference, as well as a DJ set from Emma Korantema to finish the evening.