The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 244 contributions
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 31 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
Thank you.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 31 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
That suggestion about flow charts goes back to the idea that children might expect to have some kind of visual demonstration of their rights.
Does anyone have any other comments on the redress scheme?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 24 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
Good morning. John is the author of my question. He says that the citizens panel has concerns that, even though diversity education in personal, social, health and economic classes has a lot of detail on issues such as sexuality, race and gender, there is little reflection on or understanding of cultural differences. He asks:
“How is the minister working with the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise to ensure that teachers have the appropriate equalities and diversity training to fully support the teaching of cultural diversity and delivery of PSHE in a culturally sensitive way?”
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 24 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
The phrase “culturally sensitive” is perhaps one of the most important aspects of this. We certainly want young people from all different backgrounds to feel included, not excluded. That narrative is certainly coming through. Is a review of PSHE teaching formats appropriate, so that we look at the new dynamic of diverse learning? Would that be appropriate to consider, to ensure that we include all cultures in the classroom and not just the cultures that we might have in the Scottish Parliament?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 24 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
Thank you, minister. Convener, this might be for discussion in private but perhaps we could send a follow-up letter to the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise to mirror what we have asked this morning.
11:15Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 24 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
Good morning, everyone. I am Meghan Gallacher MSP.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 24 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
I will have the pleasure of asking the minister John’s question about how we start in the classroom with understanding different cultures. Indeed, that is really important for us all to grasp, given that legislation that comes through the Scottish Parliament could impact on the various diverse communities that we have throughout Scotland.
I want to ensure that we ask the minister absolutely the right questions. Can we do anything to help improve such understanding? Have John and other panel members thought of anything that we could bring into the committee or the Scottish Parliament’s structures to ensure understanding of cultural differences and to address that issue in what we do here as a community?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 24 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
I have certainly had such concerns, so thank you for that answer. Points were made about tolerance and parental engagement—I think that we have got it.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
Do any of the other witnesses have a view on the independence of the legal profession from the state?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Meghan Gallacher
As Tracey Reilly mentioned, the bill is not clear on what evidence would be needed for a recommendation to be made to Scottish Government ministers. Would having to come up with such evidence place an additional administrative burden on people? Tracey Reilly also said that, given that it is not clear cut exactly what evidence would be required, the system could be ineffective in that, if there was not the right evidence, cases could not be taken further. Could you expand on that?