Dr Chloë Kennedy appointed to Scottish Government's Hate Crime Bill taskforce
Mon 1 February 2021
A new expert working group has been formed by the Scottish Government to consider whether misogynistic behaviour should become a standalone offence under Scots law while also adding age prejudice to existing aggravating factors.
The Scottish Government's Hate Crime Bill looks to reform the existing legislation on misogynistic behaviour.
The taskforce will be led by the human-rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy, working alongside former criminal investigator Susan Kem and Mona Rishmawi, head of the rule of law, equality and non-discrimination branch in the United Nations human rights commissioner's office.
Amongst the group of legal, gender and human-rights experts appointed to the taskforce is Dr Chloë Kennedy, Senior Lecturer in Criminal Law at Edinburgh Law School. The other members are Professor John Devaney from the University of Edinburgh, lawyer Shelagh McCall, and director of feminist advocacy organisation Engender Emma Ritch.
The taskforce aim to produce a report for the government within 12 months. They will detail their findings from evidence sessions, with their first meeting taking place later this month.