Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12416, in the name of Kaukab Stewart, on international women’s day—global perspective. 15:34

The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development (Kaukab Stewart) SNP

It is a privilege to open the debate and make my first opening speech to the Parliament as the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. I ...

Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the minister to her role. I previously raised concerns that, even in a safe country such as Scotland, there are vulnerabilities for women who are r...

Kaukab Stewart SNP

When people are moving around, it is easy to slip through the system, but I hope that our equally safe strategy captures the situation for such women. We mu...

Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I take the opportunity to welcome Kaukab Stewart to her post as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. We have worked together on the Eq...

Ruth Maguire SNP

During consideration of the bill that became the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020, in the previous parliamentary sessi...

Meghan Gallacher Con

We absolutely do. That issue has had cross-party support in the past, and we can continue that support across parties to ensure that women who have had horre...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I am not sure that Ms Gallacher moved her amendment.

Meghan Gallacher Con

I move amendment S6M-12416.1, to insert after “profound;”: “expresses concern over the practice of female genital mutilation, which is still taking place in...

Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, take the opportunity to welcome the minister to her role. On behalf of Scottish Labour, I welcome the opportunity to have this debate and to welcome...

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I, too, welcome the minister to her new role. This international women’s day, my thoughts are with the women around the world who are affected by conflict a...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I welcome and celebrate seeing Kaukab Stewart in her new role as minister. Reflecting on international women’s day, with the theme this year being “Inspire ...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I am pleased to speak in this debate ahead of international women’s day. It is important that we recognise the progress that has been made on gender equality...

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP

I, too, take the opportunity to welcome the minister to her role. I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on international women’s day. The theme ...

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Presiding Officer, I apologise to members that I will have to leave before the end of the debate and I thank you for your understanding in that regard. I am...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I advise members that there is no time in hand, so they will need to stick to their time allocations. 16:29

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I, too, welcome the minister to her new role. I am pleased to be able to speak in today’s international women’s day debate. For more than a century, this ev...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I reinforce the fact that members will need to stick to their speaking allocation. I call Maggie Chapman. You have up to six minutes, Ms Chapman. 16:36

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

International women’s day is a day for solidarity—a day to stand with women all over the world. It is a chance to reflect on the achievements and victories o...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Rhoda Grant.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

Inaudible.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Can we have Ms Grant’s microphone, please?

Rhoda Grant Lab

Inaudible.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I am afraid that we are not hearing you, Ms Grant. I call Ruth Maguire and will come back to Ms Grant when her audio has been sorted out.

Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP) SNP

Inaudible.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Can we have Ms Maguire’s microphone? 16:43

Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP) SNP

The Scottish Government motion acknowledges that women’s equality has not yet been achieved and that it remains one of the greatest human rights challenges t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Thank you, Ms Maguire. We now move to the final speaker in the open debate, which will be Rhoda Grant.

Rhoda Grant Lab

Can you hear me now?

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You are coming through loud and clear, Ms Grant. 16:49