First Minister's National Advisory Council on Women and Girls First Phase Two Report: Scottish Government Response

Foreword – Cabinet Secretary for Social

Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice

Reading the NACWG report I was particularly struck by the reflections and lived experience included from the EWP, especially in relation to the cost of living crisis. In sharing their lived expertise, intersectional voices and diverse experiences of gender inequality in Scotland, the EWP has provided invaluable insights into the systemic issues and structural barriers keeping Scotland from achieving true gender equality. I want to express my gratitude to them for sharing their expertise.

While the Scottish Government has made progress in delivering the recommendations made to us by the NACWG – as set out in our first Annual Statement on Gender Policy Coherence we know there is always much more that we can do at pace to dismantle the systemic and pernicious barriers keeping us from realising full, intersectional gender equality.

I want to assure the NACWG that the government is progressing the change that you want to see from within, while also providing the leadership required to ensure Scotland makes the changes that need to happen. Effective and lasting social change takes time, but the NACWG has provided us with the advice and recommendations to make real, impactful change and we are moving quickly and more cohesively to deliver it.