Engender

If you’ve been affected by gender-based violence, you are not alone: support is available from @scotwomensaid.bsky.social, @rapecrisisscot.bsky.social & local services near you.

Faded photo of women taking part in a Reclaim the Night march in Kirkaldy overlaid with text that reads A Scotland without violence against girls is possible, with the Engender logo in the top right-hand corner. The image is credited to Kenny Smith / DC Thomson

Today marks the start of #16DaysOfActivism, the annual campaign calling for action on gender-based violence.

Head to our website to find out how primary prevention of VAWG can help build a Scotland where women & men have equal access to rights, resources, decision-making & safety.

Faded collage of recent news coverage of the negative impact of the two-child limit overlaid with text that reads The two child limit systematically discriminates against women

[Faded collage of recent news coverage of the negative impact of the two-child limit overlaid with text that reads The time is now - the UK government must finally scrap the two-child limit

Today we've joined over 100 organisations in calling for the UK government to fully scrap the cruel two-child limit.

We've waited long enough. Acting swiftly to support women & their families impacted by the limit is crucial.

Find out more & read the letter here: cpag.org.uk/news/107-org...

Teal graphic showing recommendations for UK government on how to make legal changes & provide better guidance on using positive action measures to get more women elected

We’re calling on political parties & the UK Government to embed meaningful change in selection & election processes to see gender equal representation become a reality at future elections.

🔗 Find out more & read the full report here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

Teal graphic showing recommendations for political parties on how to use positive action measures to get more women elected

The evidence is clear: PAMs work, but only when applied consistently, strategically & with a commitment to intersectionality, focusing on Black & minority ethnic, disabled & young women.

Teal graphic showing recommendations for political parties on how to use positive action measures to get more women elected

One interviewee said, "It’s almost as if a [white] man has a clear lane, women, & people from different racial backgrounds, orientations, different genders, we’d all come together in the one lane competing against each other. Whereas the [white] man has a lane of his own to sail right through.”

Teal graphic with key findings from the report

🔸 Quotas & positive action measures (PAMs) are effective
🔹 No party has achieved gender parity across all levels of government
🔸Parties should commit to long-term strategies for positive action in elections
🔹 UK Gov needs to enact Section 106 of the Equality Act to make candidate diversity available

Graphic with teal on a pale background that reads 'New report shows how parties can take action to get more women elected' Alongside an illustration of Scotland with votes flowing into ballot boxes from various locations across the country

📢 Women bring essential perspectives to politics, but are still being pushed to the margins.

Our new report reveals the barriers women face & how parties can take action to get more women elected.

Check out the report here & read more below ⬇: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

Engender blog | Engender launches report on women’s experience of the election process Engender’s new report ‘Women’s Political Journey’ explores the candidate journey—from preparing to stand as a candidate, including all the interview and vetting processes, to being elected and what ha...

The political arena is becoming increasingly hostile, especially for women & marginalised women, & our new report highlights the barriers & challenges women face when participating in politics.

➡️ See the full report with vital recommendations for action here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

🗳️ We're sharing the final part of our interview series exploring women's political journeys.

In this last clip, Edinburgh candidate Sally Donald talks about the challenges & impacts of online abuse & what it's like to stand as a woman political candidate.

The graphic shows a dark teal background with bright teal and white left-aligned text that reads "Nominations open for Engender's board of directors". In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a white circle. In the bottom right-hand corner of the graphic there is an icon of a megaphone emitting sound

🗳 Nominations are now open for elections to Engender’s Board of Directors! 🗳

To nominate yourself, you must have become an Engender member by 16th October 2025.

🗓 Nomination deadline is 9am, Monday, 10th Nov.

➡ Find out more & access the nomination form here: www.engender.org.uk/jobs/?jobid=18

graphic with an image of a group of women in discussion overlaid with an opaque filter and text that reads: Scotland demands better Change happens when we step up and demand it The March for all of us Edinburgh 25th Oct Scotland-demands-better.com Join others from across the women’s movement at the Scotland Demands Better March to demand better than poverty & the systems which sustain women's inequality. Look out for our banner near the ponds on Horse Wynd from 10.30am. The Engender logo is in the top right hand corner.

📢 Change for the better happens when people stand together & demand it.

Join us & others from across the women's movement next Saturday at the Scotland Demands Better March in Edinburgh - look out for our banner near the ponds on Horse Wynd from 10.30am.

#WeDemandBetter @povertyalliance.org

📢From carers to firefighters, from Dundee to the Borders, we are standing together to demand change.✊

Join us this Saturday 25th October as we march together for a Scotland free from the injustice of poverty. #WeDemandBetter.

Join us: www.scotland-demands-better.com

Graphic with a pink border and an opaque image of graffiti of Lady Justice overlaid with black text on a pink background that reads 'We need meaningful legal reforms to tackle misogyny in the face of rising threats' The Engender logo is in the top right hand corner of the graphic.

Graphic with a pink border and an opaque image of graffiti of Lady Justice overlaid with black text on a pink background that reads 'read our response to the consultation on adding ‘sex’ as a protected characteristic to the Hate Crime and Public Order Act 2021' The Engender logo is in the top right hand corner of the graphic.

Women in Scotland need the Scottish Government to take bold action to tackle misogyny at a time of increasing threats to women's safety both online & on our streets.

Read our response to the consultation on adding 'sex' to the Hate Crime & Public Order Act here: www.engender.org.uk/content/publ...

'If you don't see yourself, don't wait - just be the first person there.'

Aberdeenshire Councillor @fatima-joji.bsky.social shares her experiences of standing for election & the need to improve our political systems.

Read our report on women in politics here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

Women against the Far Right Scotland We reject the far right’s racist lies about “protecting” women and girls. They are not defenders of women—they exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division. Standing up for women’s rights ...

We stand in solidarity with racialised & minority communities who are being made to feel unsafe by far-right protests, hate speech & incitement of violence here in Scotland.

Find out more & sign the letter here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/wo...

Standing up for women’s rights means rejecting racism & division. It means fighting for investment in childcare, housing, education, social security & community resources: the things that genuinely improve women’s lives.

The weaponisation of women’s rights & safety to demonise minorities does nothing to keep women safe. Instead, it distracts from the urgent political action needed to tackle men’s violence against women & girls.

The false & racist narratives promoted by the far-right ignore the fact that violence against women & girls is most commonly perpetrated by someone close to the victim.

The graphic shows a purple background with a screenshot of a post from Women Against the Far Right Scotland. The graphic includes a collage of notable women who have signed up to support the open letter.

The graphic shows a purple background with white left-aligned text quote that reads "The weaponisation of women’s rights & safety to demonise minorities does nothing to keep women safe. Instead, it distracts from the urgent political action needed to tackle men’s violence against women & girls." In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is the Engender logo.

📝 We’ve signed - have you?

We're proud to stand with over 200 women & organisations across Scotland who have signed the Women Against the Far Right Scotland open letter, rejecting the far right’s racist lies about “protecting” women & girls. 🧵⬇

Hear more from Falkirk Councillor Laura Murtagh in our interview series accompanying our latest report exploring women's political journeys & what it's like to stand as a candidate.

Stay tuned to see more in the series soon & read more about the report here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

Today Aberdeenshire Councillor @fatima-joji.bsky.social shares her experiences of being a woman in politics ⬇

Our report highlights the barriers & challenges women face & outlines actions needed to improve our political systems.

Find out more: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

📣 If you work in film exhibition in Scotland, the @emcc-scotland.bsky.social wants to hear your views on gender equity in the sector - take the survey before 17th October ⬇

TFN is @scvo.scot's magazine for the #VoluntarySector

With next year’s crucial #Holyrood #elections moving ever closer, we hear about a report published by Engender urging reform to enable more women to become politicians

Available to read here: buff.ly/ntybgci

@engenderscot.bsky.social

Engender

You can help us build a more equal future by supporting our vital work on intersectional policy & advocacy:
➡️ Become an Engender member
➡️ Make a donation

Together, we can push for change - head to our website to find out more: www.engender.org.uk

Their voices are helping to shape the fight for women’s equality in Scotland & will help us hold the UK to account on women’s rights under CEDAW, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

A huge thank you to all who have generously shared with us so far. 💜

We've heard from them about the issues impacting women's lives, including violence against women & girls, poverty, physical & mental health, racism, sexism, misogyny, ableism & much more.

📢 Women across Scotland have been sharing their experiences with us in a national series of workshops discussing their rights & where they most need change.

Correction: Apologies for the wee mistake in last week's Friday Feminist Five newsletter - the @abortionrightsscot.bsky.social International Safe Abortion Day event is happening on 28th September from 11.45am ⬇

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