Image source, bbc

The Supreme Court has ruled that parts of the Scottish government's continuity bill, which prepares Scottish laws for Brexit, are unconstitutional.

The seven judges said Scottish Ministers won most of their legal arguments, but that one part of the bill would be outside the legislative competence of the Parliament.

Other sections of the legislation are also ruled out because the UK Government's Withdrawal Bill can't now be altered by Holyrood.

The Scottish Government must now decide whether to change the bill.

SNP MSP Gail Ross asks what is need in terms of improving how staff approach sexual harassment issues.

Dr Patrycja Kupiec suggests standardising reporting procedures would be helpful.

She also calls for teacher training and for all schools to have one specific person pupils can report sexual harassment to.

Ms Ross asks about stopping the people who perpetrate sexual harassment in the first place.

Dr Kupiec says this is where good sex education comes in, adding Scotland can be revolutionary with this.

This must be across the curriculum rather than slotted into current PSE classes, she adds.

Image source, bbc

Audrey Opdycke-Barnes from the Young Women Lead Committee says they designed a full campaign all across Scoltand.

Ms Opdycke-Barnes explains they chatted to everyone in a safe space with advice.

Dr Patrycja Kupiec of the Young Women's Movement tells the committee there were differences in the reaction of girls in different communities.

Ms Kupiec says some girls tried to "make themselves smaller" at school.

Bra strap pulling or pulling your skirt had a huge impact on girls at school, not just sexual assault, she says.

Ms Opdycke-Barnes adds they worked with young women who were really passionate about this, but hadn't had a space that was that safe to talk about how they had been targeted.

Our behaviour changed and we now know that we have the power to help other girls, she adds.

Dr Patrycja Kupiec of the Young Women's Movement says the report on sexual harassment in schools also looked at how homophobia and racism fed into the problem.

Audrey Opdycke-Barnes from the Young Women Lead Committee says some of the evidence heard became challenging to listen to, with harassment ranging from pinging bras, to unconscious bias, to sexual assault and indecent contact.

In many cases, girls feel unable to report it because it does not get taken seriously enough or is hadn't been "seen", Ms Opdycke-Barnes says.

Image source, YWCA Scotland

The Young Women Lead Committee began its inquiry into sexual harassment in schools in the wake of the #metoo movement.

It defines sexual harassment as "unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature which violates your dignity, makes you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated, and/or creates a hostile or offensive environment".

The report covers sex and relationship education, reporting of harassment, intersectionality and consistency of policies.

Read it here., external

Image source, bbc

The committee is hearing from:

• Patrycja Kupiec of the Young Women’s Movement, external
• Audrey Opdycke-Barnes from the Young Women Lead Committee, external

Image source, Thinkstock

The Equalities and Human Rights Committee is this morning discussing sexual harassment in schools.

It will first take evidence from representative of the Young Women's Movement Scotland and Young Women Lead.

Then Education Secretary John Swinney will answer questions from the committee.

Read the committee papers here., external

Image source, BBC/PA

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live on Thursday 13 December 2018.

We begin with the Young Women's Lead Committee of the YWCA Scotland giving evidence on their report on sexual harassment in schools, from the authors and the education secretary.

After general questions, we’ll bring you an undoubtedly Brexit themed first minister’s questions.

The lunch time member’s debate will see Willie Rennie raising concerns about St Andrews’ GP out-of-hours facility.

Image source, PA/BBC

The government will then give their reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, which begins at 2pm.

The Scottish government will then debate human rights.

Finally MSPs will debate and pass the Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill.