WOMEN’S equality organisations are calling for the Scottish Government to create a taskforce to monitor women’s participation and representation in local politics.
Engender, Elect Her and Women 50:50 are campaigning for a future where women have equal representation in local councils in Scotland.
Following the May 2022 election, the number of women councillors increased from 29% to 35%, an increase of just 6%, meaning that most of Scotland’s councils remain dominated by men.
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One major problem the campaign says it aims to address is a lack of data to clearly understand the diversity of representatives – but available data shows that black and minority ethnic women, disabled women and LBTI women are badly underrepresented in local authorities.
The Making it Happen for 2027 cam- paign was created due to the issue of diverse representation falling by the wayside after an election campaign.
It is issuing a call to action to councillors, government, political parties and the media – saying that they cannot again afford to lose the opportunity to initiate long-term, sustainable change within the structures, processes and organisations which help shape democratic institutions.
The campaign will also include reports and resources digging into the causes of gender inequality in local democracy.
Jessie Duncan, Equal Representation Officer at Engender, Scotland’s feminist policy organisation, said: “When it comes to local decision-making, women’s voices have long been missing, and the pace of change for women elected to local councils remains glacial. After a small increase at May’s election, women make up just 35% of local Scottish councillors.
“Representation at the local level and local government services have a huge impact on women’s daily lives, and major bearing on gender equality outcomes across education, transport, leisure facilities, and social care.
“Following the underwhelming results in May, there is, yet again, talk from political parties, councils and government of a need to do better.
“If we want to see gender-equal representation in our councils become a reality at the next local authority elections in 2027, action is needed now.
“Let’s not waste another five years before ... come the next local elections in 2027, we must not still be asking, ‘where are the women?’”
A representative from Women 50:50, the campaign for women to make up half of MSPs and councillors said: “Frankly, we are sick of having the same conversations again and again. After every election result we see people questioning why white men remain so overrepresented in our democratic institutions, but fail to see parties, councils and the Scottish Government do enough to change the situation.
“We know that diverse representation results in better decisions being made – leading ultimately to better outcomes for people across Scotland – and we hope that institutions at all levels will listen to this call for action and do the work needed to make it happen.
“If we are serious about ensuring that local democracy represents, and crucially, serves women in all their diversity, we need legislated candidate quotas and culture change within parties and local authorities.”
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