Not unexpected, but disappointing nevertheless, is the news that the number of women candidates standing in the Scottish election has fallen to under 30%.   Engender are preparing a breakdown of women candidates by party and will send this to members after the easter break.  In the meantime, this Guardian article has figures on the (lack of)  diversity of candidates  Read more

The government are proposing changes to the Child Maintenance system which would mean those seeking maintenance from an absent parent are charged £100 to register for state help in securing payments and 12% of any subsequent payments collected.  Charities have written to Equalities Minister, Teresa May, pointing out that  97% of parents with care who are eligible to receive child maintenance are women and that women and their children should not be penalised when relationships breakdown and an absent parent will not support their own children .  Read the letter  

British business continues to insist it can and will increase women's representation in the boardroom voluntarily without the government enforcing quotas.  The Norweigian experience suggests that quotas is what it takes, as their Public Administration Minister pointed out in a recent interview "the voluntary system didn't function. We increased from five to six percent, it wasn't really visible."  Read more

If you read the wonderful Women's Views on News you may be keen to complete their survey to help them develop the site.  It's a short Survey Monkey which should only take 5 mins and will help the site deliver what you want to know about.   WVoN Survey

Last month saw the publication of the European Commissions first yearly report on their 5-year strategy on equality between women and men.   The report covers equal pay, decision making and gender-based violence with figures from around Europe.  Read the Report on the Progress of Equality between Women and Men in 2010     

This new work brings together leading practitioners and researchers from the disciplines of criminology, sociology and law.  The book "examines advances in theoretical debates, analyses existing research and presents new evidence that challenges the cultural essentialism that often characterises efforts to explain, and even justify, this violation of women's rights. By locating forced marriage within broader debates on violence against women, social justice and human rights, the authors offer an intersectional perspective that can be used to inform both theory and practical efforts to address violence against diverse groups of women."

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