Image source, bbc

Andy Sirel from JustRight Scotland, external explains he is providing evidence from a legal perspective today.

Mr Sirel explains his organisation gives legal advice to the Scottish Women's Rights Centre to combat gender based violence.

The law should be handled with care, he says and he adds it is only one tool in the process.

Mr Sirel tells MSPs he believes the bill will help fight FGM and support those at risk.

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Dr Saffron Karlsen says it is appropriate that measures are taken to prevent FGM but her research suggests there are a range of ways to provide this.

There is greater potential for involvement of groups impacted than is realised, she explains, and calls for policies to be approached collaboratively.

FGM legislation has led to the stigmatisation and criminalisation of many innocent families, Dr Karlsen warns.

She explains this can undermine communities and families.

Eva Ontiveros
BBC World Service

It's estimated that 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM, according to the United Nations (UN).

Although primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, it is also practised in some countries in Asia and Latin America. And amongst immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand,, external the UN says.

FGM can cause physical and mental health problems that go on to affect women in later life.

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

The Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill, external will provide for female genital mutilation protection orders and for guidance in relation to such orders.

It also intends to help prevent female genital mutilation generally; and for connected purposes.

Click here for the SPICe briefing on the bill here., external

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Committee convener Ruth Maguire asks if the witnesses support the bill’s aim to increase legal protection for women.

Dr Ima Jackson from Glasgow Caledonian University, external, who has just completed a research project on FGM, says there have been challenges for the community with the processes.

There are very real risks to people from the way they are asked to follow the processes, she adds.

Dr Jackson has some issues with the bill, expressing concerns about the reasons for a protection order and why it is needed above the existing child protection.

She asks why women from from the African diaspora are positioned in a different way from other women in terms of FGM.

Image source, bbc

The Equalities and Human Rights Commitee now turns to consideration of the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill, external.

The committee convener introduces:

• Dr Ima Jackson from Glasgow Caledonian University, external
• Andy Sirel from JustRight Scotland, external
• Dr Saffron Karlsen from the University of Bristol, external

Labour MSP Mary Fee expresses concern that deletion or redaction may seem like an attempt to re-write history and ignore how these men were treated.

Mr Yousaf replies this is why it is important to have a range of options, particularly annotation.

The committee unanimously approves the Historical Sexual Offences (Disregarded Convictions and Official Records) (Scotland) Regulations 2019.

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Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf says this is an important final step in the implementation of the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) Act, which comes into force next month.

Mr Yousaf says these regulations allow for the different ways convictions may be removed, adding flexibility is important.

The justice secretary explains the regulations may disregard the conviction by deleting the record, redaction or via annotation.

Image source, Getty Images

Thousands of gay and bisexual men are to be formally pardoned after a new law was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament in June 2018.

Consenting sexual activity between men over the age of 21 was only decriminalised in Scotland in 1981.

It was a further 20 years before the age of consent for gay men was lowered to 16.

The new law will pardon men convicted of having consensual sex with other men before it was decriminalised.

Read more.

The committee is first looking at the Historical Sexual Offences (Disregarded Convictions and Official Records) (Scotland) Regulations 2019.

These regulations will ensure the remaining part of the Act to ensure gay men receive pardons for history offences will come into force in October.

Giving evidence are:

• Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf
• Linsay Mackay from the Scottish government
• Patrick Down from the Scottish government

Image source, Thinkstock

The Equalities and Human Rights Committee is beginning shortly.

It will first hear from Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf on some subordinate legislation to enact the Act pardoning gay men of historical offences.

Then MSPs will begin taking evidence on the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill, external from a range of experts and third sector bodies.

Read the committee papers here., external

Image source, BBC/PA

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live on Thursday 12 September 2019.

First up this morning, the equalities committee discuss legislation on pardons for gay men convicted of historial offences and FGM.

First minister's questions takes place at noon, following on from general questions.

Then Labour MSP Monica Lennon leads a debate on drug deaths.

After lunch, it's portfolio question time for culture, tourism and external affairs ministers.

And the Justice Committee will lead a debate on the creation of the national police and fire services.