Social justice issues are not prioritised at the highest level of Scottish politics. This is despite widespread recognition of the moral imperatives to reduce inequality and the benefits that this would bring to our economy and our society. We need to integrate gender and other forms of equality as key objectives in all policymaking, and create accountability for doing so. With more Green MSPs we can have a bigger impact on tackling discrimination, and promoting equality and diversity. 

• Gender Equality Bill. Gender inequality is deeply entrenched in Scotland’s economy, politics and culture. Despite some progress, the rate of change is incredibly slow. As a result, diverse groups of women, including disabled women, refugee women, unpaid carers, older women and single parents experience discrimination, poverty and insecurity. LGBTI+ people – including trans people and those of minority gender identities – are also significantly affected by gender inequality. Green MSPs will support development of a Gender Equality Bill to drive progress against all gender inequality. This would enshrine existing commitments in law and increase accountability. It could include legal targets for the provision of public services on which many women depend and which are crucial for equality.  
• Equality budgeting. Public spending must reflect Scotland’s policy commitments to tackle inequality. We will push to improve equality impact assessment and budget analysis, which take stock of how public policy affects those protected under equality law. Equality issues must be embedded in all resource allocation and policy development, and links between policy and budgeting must be clear. Scottish Greens support comprehensive gender budget analysis to show the impact of department budgets and tax-raising on gender equality, and to guide subsequent decision-making. For instance, there is considerable inequality in wages in Scotland and a large majority of the highest earners are men.  Our redistributive taxation proposals will seek to level the playing field – tackling inequality, including that which is gender-based.
• Public sector equality outcome. Scotland has the power to lead by example across the public sector. We will push for better compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, stronger Scottish-specific duties and investment in the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in Scotland to improve equality outcomes across Scotland’s public bodies. Green MSPs will also continue to push for the devolution of equalities law.