Chamber and committees

My second question is for Nick Holroyd. Do you have any concern regarding the provision for charities to redact certain information from published accounts when there might be safety or security concerns?

I have been involved in third sector organisations, and I have always found that security concerns are the main issue for trustees. Thank you for that answer.

Does anybody else want to come in on that question?

Good morning. Before I ask my questions, I declare my interest as a co-chair of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council, which is a charitable organisation.

My first question is for Gavin McEwan and John Picton. Do you have any concerns that the requirements will disproportionately affect smaller charities, particularly ethnic minority charities that are already struggling to stay in business because of the cost of living crisis?

My next question is for all the witnesses. As you probably know, the majority of small third sector organisations have limited numbers of people, and the majority of their trustees are volunteers. There is loads of work involved, so what support might be provided to such organisations?

I am really happy to speak in the debate, and I am honoured to be the first male member to do so on this very important day—international women’s day. I thank our First Minister for bringing the important issue of embracing equity to the chamber. She has been a role model for a lot of women in the world. I thank her for that.

International women’s day is a day to celebrate women’s achievements, to raise awareness of discrimination and to move towards gender equality. Gender equality is not just an issue for women; it is one for everyone to pay attention to, including men. I get told that every day. I grew up with five sisters and 21 cousin sisters, and I now have a daughter who reminds me of that every day.

We must all be present to listen to the experiences of women and girls and to join in the conversation. International women’s day was originally set up to help to draw attention to women’s right to vote, but its initiatives have changed in line with the issues that are most pressing in society. In response to the armed conflicts that were happening worldwide, international women’s day 2010 highlighted the struggle of displaced women.

Women and children make up almost 80 per cent of displaced people. We are again seeing the displacement of women and children with the war in Ukraine. Women are being displaced at a higher rate, and there have been reports of people trafficking, which disproportionately affects female refugees. I spoke about the need to protect refugee women in the Scottish Government’s debate to mark one year of war in Ukraine.

Today, I want to draw attention to the important theme of this year’s international women’s day: embracing equity. Ensuring that every woman and girl be provided with an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or social or economic background, must be a priority for this Parliament. Equity is vital to making sure that international women’s day is inclusive for all women and girls across Scotland.

For that reason, on this international women’s day, I want to draw attention to ethnic and religious minority women. Many ethnic and religious minority women experience misogyny and sexism in different ways, and, if we want to tackle sexism and misogyny, we must recognise the multiplicity of experiences.

Yesterday, my colleagues spoke about the safety of women and girls on public transport. Many spoke about the worrying statistic that around half of women and girls feel uncomfortable using public transport after dark, and the fact that many women have no choice other than to take an expensive taxi, as they do not feel safe taking public transport or walking home alone. The Scottish Government must do better to ensure that women and girls are able to travel safely and without fear or harassment, no matter the situation or time of day.

The feeling of danger when walking alone at night or taking public transport alone is shared by women across Scotland, but ethnic and religious minority women have the added fear of discriminatory behaviour to factor into their safety.

Some Muslim women wear a hijab or niqab that represents a sign of modesty and faith in their religion. Because of that religious choice, they face violence, discrimination, and harassment. I have been told of cases of Muslim women avoiding train stations altogether out of fear that someone would push them on to the tracks.

Recent reports on Islamophobia in the UK have found that women are much more likely to be targeted than men, but violence against women and girls is not the only way that ethnic and religious minority women face further inequality. In employment, the gender pay gap for ethnic minority women is even wider. In sport, black, Asian and ethnic minority women and girls suffer from particularly low levels of involvement. In higher education, academic positions are dominated by white people, and senior roles are predominantly held by men.

Embracing equity means acknowledging the added discrimination and inequality that women and girls from ethnic and religious minority backgrounds face. Embracing equity means recognising that different resources and opportunities must be provided to strive for an equal outcome for all women and girls. Embracing equity means reaching full equality for all women.

Not really. Anyone can answer. My question is a general one. I just want to know whether third sector organisations and smaller organisations were consulted.

I am content with that answer, but it is a concern because, from what quite a few colleagues are saying, the majority of organisations found that the consultation was not balanced. That is why I think that the consultation should have been wider.

My question is for Mridul Wadhwa, and I would like Rami Okasha to come in, too. As you probably know, I have been involved in third sector organisations all my life. I have worked with small and big organisations, and I have always found that smaller organisations find it very difficult to liaise with OSCR, Companies House and big organisations. Do you think that smaller organisations and minority ethnic organisations were involved in the consultation? When I asked the previous panel of witnesses, they said that only 12 such organisations were involved. Was that enough?

Good morning. I have a small question. Do you believe that third sector organisations or ethnic minority organisations were involved during the consultation period? That is a general question for whoever wants to pick it up.

Convener, my colleagues have already asked the other question that I wanted to ask, and I have got the answer.

Rami, is there any part of existing charity law that you think is out of date and that smaller organisations should know about?