That the Parliament commends the efforts and forward-thinking of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across 146 countries who, recognising that tackling gender inequality requires all of society, are enlisting boys as part of the UN’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign; notes that the campaign runs from 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December 2016, which is Human Rights Day; considers that the campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world, and notes that it originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute, coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991; acknowledges that members of the World Association of Girl Guides and girls across the globe are campaigning in their own schools and colleges, with, for example, guides and scouts in Italy setting up educational sessions for boys, and girls and boys in Rwanda forming anti-violence clubs in schools; recognises that gender-based violence is an issue that cannot be solved by women alone, and urges all MSPs to play their part in raising awareness of and tackling gender-based violence wherever it exists.
SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cunninghame South
Ruth Maguire MSP 