In today’s uncertain political and social climate, Scotland’s promise to enshrine the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) into Scot’s Law is a glimmer of light amid the chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once again proving itself as a champion of women’s rights, Scotland’s socialist approach to this issue has taken into account different perspectives and has thus ensured the possibility of a safer Scotland for all inhabitants.
Unlike her predecessors, Moldovan President Maia Sandu has explicitly challenged Russia’s presence in Transnistria and called for its military to leave. This is likely to pose a significant risk to Transnistria’s stability as it put’s her in direct conflict with Transnistria’s capital, Tiraspol.
Historically, Northern Ireland’s peace walls were built to ensure civility between nationalist (Catholic) and loyalist (Protestant) regions of the country. In recent years however, they are viewed as counterproductive to future peace developments. As a result, there is a growing desire to remove the walls, but in the context of Brexit is there still a need for them? This article will examine how the re-emergence of overt interest in an united Ireland may have reframed the role of the peace walls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland is the first country in the world to make period products free for those who need them. The Period Products (Free Provision)(Scotland) Bill, proposed by Monica Lennon MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) was approved unanimously by MSPs on November 24 2020. Soon, it will become enshrined in law and I, alongside many others, am delighted that Scotland is tackling period poverty, especially using such an inclusive approach. The Bill will make the service accessible to all who need it and give responsibility to local authorities (councils) and institutions to tailor the service to their population’s needs.
The new abortion bill in Poland has meant further restrictions on when abortions can be provided. The country already has some of the strictest laws in Europe. However, there is an estimated 100,000 abortions provided to Polish women annually that are predominantly provided by Germany and Slovakia. This articles examines what the abortion changes in Poland will mean for Polish women within the context of COVID and tense relations within the EU between Poland and the Western EU countries.
In response to the recent issues with migration in Europe over the last few years, the European Commission (EC) launched the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. This article examines the implications that the Pact will have for the EU’s ability to handle migration in the long-term.
The next Scottish census will be in 2021 and this will be the first year that ‘Pagan’ is offered as an option in the religion category. This is an awaited breakthrough for the community of this minority religion who have never had official recognition in a census, and who have fought for the past 20 years to have more coverage, respect, and official statistics surrounding their numbers in Scotland.
COVID19 has exacerbated the discrimination and challenges faced by the Roma community in Slovakia. Their precarious living conditions and safety need to be addressed by the Government. More accountability and action needs to be provided by the Government to alleviate the struggles they face. This is essential before unity can be achieved between Slovakia and the Roma community.
With the end of the Danish ghetto plan, the government intends to reduce public housing and dismantle the most deprived districts across the Danish map. However, the ‘ghettos’ are home for many, particularly immigrants who have moved to Denmark. The plan will separate families and evict people from their homes. As a result, those residing in the ‘ghettos’ face an unsettling future.