Members' Business: Celebrating Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller Community - 24 May 2018

Описание: Mary Fee: Celebrating Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller Community—That the
Parliament celebrates what it sees as the rich social and cultural contribution that the
Gypsy/Traveller community has made to society in Scotland since the 12th century; acknowledges
that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has estimated that the country's Gypsy/Traveller
population is between 15,000 to 20,000; understands that the term, "Gypsy/Traveller", refers to
distinct groups, including Romany Gypsies, Scottish and Irish travellers, and others who regard
travelling as being part of their ethnic identity; believes that they experience a variety of issues
related to provision of adequate housing and access to public health services, with a much higher
proportion rating their health as "bad’ or "very bad" compared with the national average; believes
that this contributes to a male life expectancy of 55 years, 12 years shorter than the average;
understands that they are a disproportionately marginalised and discriminated group and are
stigmatised by inaccurate myths and stereotyping about their culture; notes with distress that the
most recent statistics from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey suggests that 31% of people would
be "unhappy or very unhappy" about a close relative marrying a Gypsy/Traveller, and that 35%
said that a Gypsy/Traveller would be "very/fairly unsuitable" as a primary school teacher, and
notes the calls on the Scottish Government to increase its commitment to eliminating
discrimination against the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller community in West Scotland and throughout
the country through strengthening existing equality legislation and providing greater support for
inclusivity and equality training to ensure greater protection.

Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

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