WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER TO CHANGE LIVES
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation that strives to make a difference not only internationally but locally through many varied projects and campaigns.
Last Saturday, 25th April, Soroptimists travelled to The Huntingtower Hotel in Perth from all over Scotland ( 7 Scotland North clubs eg Crieff, Perth and Dundee, and 10 Scotland South Clubs eg Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Glasgow City) including Soroptimists from England and Wales. One of our speakers in the morning was Margaret Emsley who is our SIGBI Federation President Elect. Before becoming a Lecturer at Manchester University, she worked as a civil engineer on construction sites. Margaret spoke about marketing Soroptimism; a new Federation project which will be launched in 2016 and our Federation Conference in November which this year is being held in Glasgow.
Also in the morning the second speaker was Kay Richmond who lives in Wales and heads up our UK Programme Action Committee. This Committee provides help and guidance to Soroptimist Clubs in the UK when they are devising, planning and carrying out their project work.
During the day, Soroptimists spoke about Reducing Women’s Imprisonment especially in Scotland which has been part of a two year study carried out by Soroptimists and The Prison Reform Trust. Earlier in the year, The Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson MSP announced that the proposed new prison at Inverclyde would not be going ahead. Four Scottish Soroptimists are meeting Michael Matheson on the 29th April to discuss further ideas put forward by the Soroptimist Report.
Violence Against Women is also a Flagship Soroptimist Project and the key speaker of the day was Rhoda Grant MSP talking about Commercial Sexual Exploitation with studies proving that there are more rapes than robberies. An extremely interesting topic. “ How many young girls announce that all they want to be when they grow up is a prostitute ?”
Human Trafficking is very much an issue of today. Young women and girls are trafficked not only between countries but within countries and this includes Scotland. One of our speakers, Andy Bevan from The International Justice Mission talked about ‘The End of Poverty requires the End of Violence’. This organisation rescues victims of violence; pursues justice to ensure traffickers and others, who prey on the poor, go to jail; helps survivors of violence to rebuild their lives and they also provide training and guidance to police, judges and other authorities to keep the poor safe.
Our final speaker was Major Anne Read form the Salvation Army Anti-Trafficking Team. The Salvation Army have been campaigning against Trafficking since 1885.
“Gender violence kills and disables more women and girls than cancer, traffic accidents, malaria and war COMBINED” (World Health Organisation)
Delegates appreciated the Modern Slavery Q&A session.
Andy Bevan IJM
Rhoda Grant MSP
The Conference not only raised awareness but inspired women into action to transform lives.
Janice Wilson
Communications Officer, S I Scotland North.