Event part of a series to raise funds for Edinburgh rape crisis
SCOTTISH POLITICIANS will debate the state of gender politics in the UK at Edinburgh University in an event to raise funds for Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC).
Lecturer in gender and politics at Edinburgh University Dr Meryl Kenney will chair the five way debate between politicians and campaigners including SNP MSP Gillian Martin, Conservative MSP Annie Wells, Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, Engender executive director Emma Rich and Women 50:50 chair Talat Yaqoob.
The event will begin at 7pm tonight (7 February) in Edinburgh University’s Appleton Tower
The event is being organised by human rights group Amnesty International as part of the ‘Equalise’ week of events to help fund ERCC.
Speaking to CommonSpace an event organiser said: “While Equalise is primarily a fundraising event, we believe it is vital to engage in discussion of gender politics at the same time. This debate addresses one of the largest political issues of the day, Brexit, in order to understand what the gendered implications of leaving the EU will be, and how each political parties intends to respond.”
The debate is organised for the same day as the Scottish Parliament’s indicative vote on the UK Government’s Brexit Bill. The Scottish Parliament has no ability to block the legislation, which passed in the House of Commons overwhelming on Thursday (2 February).
A TUC report produced before the UK’s referendum on EU membership in June 2016 outlined that the EU had helped to equalise the economic and social status of women in the UK, and that some advances could potentially be under threat in the event of Brexit.
Third sector organisations that work to help women experiencing violence by men are under enormous stress because of UK Government austerity measures and demand for services. In March 2016 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave £190,000 to Women’s Aid groups to deal with the fallout from austerity measures.
The event will begin at 7pm tonight (7 February) in Edinburgh University’s Appleton Tower.
Picture courtesy of Facebook
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