Meghan Gallacher (Central
Scotland) (Con):... I have spoken in previous debates in the
chamber on the illegal invasion of Ukraine. I will never forget
the bombing of a hospital in Mariupol that claimed the life of a
pregnant woman and her baby. I have also spoken on the
Gaza-Israel conflict. I
think that we will all remember 7 October 2023 as the day on
which Hamas weaponised sexual violence. We saw videos of naked
and bloodied women defiled by Hamas on the day of the attack; it
emerged on social media for the whole world to see and watch on
in horror...
Carol Mochan (South
Scotland) (Lab):...That brings me to the suffering of women
in Palestine and Israel. The attacks on 7
October and the reported treatment of Israeli
women were deplorable and wholly unacceptable and have rightly
been met with widespread condemnation across the world. Following
that, we have witnessed all-out war on the Gaza strip and the
mass killing of tens of thousands of people, with many more
currently starving to death as a result of the bombardment and
limited access to aid...
Sharon Dowey (South
Scotland) (Con):...As we have seen in
Ukraine, Israel and
Gaza, too often it is women who bear the brunt of horrific
violence against innocent people. Others have highlighted similar
situations in other countries. We could all cite many more
examples that should appal and dismay us, but today, as the
shadow minister for justice, I want to focus my comments on
violence against women here in Scotland. In this country, too,
women face the threat of violence all the time. I am sure that,
at one time or another, every woman in this chamber will have
felt the need to alter their behaviour to keep themselves safe. I
am sure that we have all been threatened and abused online and
even in person...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland)
(Lab):...Our thoughts turn to the
experiences of the women in Israel who
were taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October and who have still not
returned to their families, and to those in Palestine who, as
many members have already referenced, are suffering unimaginable
horrors in the most desperate of situations. Tomorrow, on
international women’s day, we should all redouble our calls for
an immediate ceasefire in that war—an end to rocket fire in and
out of Gaza, the return of hostages and an end to violence and
bloodshed—as we aspire to a two-state solution where no woman has
to live in fear...
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame
South) (SNP):...It is hard to find words to
describe that horror. I am at the point where I am not sure how
many more pictures of dead babies, women and children I can look
at. I wondered if it might be helpful to share some things that
people can do and some actions that they can take if they are
feeling helpless. Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom provides some suggestions for immediate action. Those are
to write to the UK Government and demand that it uphold its
obligation, under common article 1 to the Geneva conventions, to
ensure that all parties to conflict follow international law,
which should include calling for a ceasefire. You can lobby your
Government for concrete actions such as sanctions to be taken
against Israel if
it does not comply with the United Nations Security Council
resolutions. You can demand that your country cut off diplomatic
relations with Israel if
it does not immediately end its bombardment and siege of Gaza and
start abiding by international law. On an individual front, you
can also participate in a sanctions campaign. I urge people to
find out about boycott, divestment and sanctions, which are
legitimate and peaceful methods for tackling rogue apartheid
states that have worked in the past and can work again...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow)
(Lab)...Many members have talked about women bearing the
brunt of war. In every conflict, women face sexual violence and
daily suffering. made the point that women
are often very remote from any of the decisions that are made
about war. Sexual violence against Israeli
women and against Palestinian women is equally unacceptable...
To read the whole debate, OPEN HERE
