Image source, Getty Images

That's all from Holyrood Live on Tuesday 10 December 2019.

The government has appointed an expert to oversee infection prevention and control at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said Marion Bain's appointment would help restore trust among clinical staff and families.

Glasgow's health board was put into special measures last month because of ongoing issues around infection control.

It followed the deaths of two children at the city's largest hospital.

• Mother of hospital death boy: 'I've been ignored'
• Timeline: The trials of Scotland's super hospital
• Read more here

Image source, PA

In 2016 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke for the first time about her "painful experience" of losing a baby in 2011.

Ms Sturgeon, 46, who has no children, revealed that she had a miscarriage while she was deputy first minister.

She said she hoped allowing the details to be written about in a new book would challenge assumptions made about women.

"Sometimes... having a baby just doesn't happen - no matter how much we might want it to," she added.

Read more here.

Image source, NHS

Last year we reported NHS Grampian was ordered to change its procedures and apologise for its treatment of a woman who had suffered a miscarriage.

The woman attended Dr Gray's in Elgin for an assisted delivery after the miscarriage, hoping to take her baby home afterwards.

However staff disposed of a container used to store the remains.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) said not enough "empathy or compassion" was shown, external.

Read more here.

Image source, SAMANTHA ALLEN

Giving the hormone progesterone to women who have had a miscarriage and experience early bleeding in pregnancy could improve their chances of having baby, a study suggests.

A small number of women could potentially be helped, a trial found.

Samantha Allen, 31, experienced spotting when she lost her first baby and then again during her second pregnancy.

After taking the hormone for eight weeks, she gave birth to her son Noah.

Read more here.

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee convener Bill Kidd explains the changes to the MSP code of conduct will implement recommendations made by the joint working group on sexual harassment.

It says members must not behave in manner that included bullying or harassment, and complaints can be made directly to commissioner for ethical standards in public life, he says.

MSPs later unanimously backed the changes to the code of conduct unanimously.

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, external will now lead a debate on changes to the Code of Conduct.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Green Party MSP John Finnie lends his party's support to the congratulating of the human rights defenders.

Mr Finnie says this is not least due to the risk they put themselves in the face of, as well as their families and communities.

He welcomes human rights defenders from Russia and Zambia, Konstantin Baranov and Laura Miti, to the parliament.

The Green MSP says he would like to see Scotland as a base for peace talks and human reconciliation, a nation for human rights, respite and refuge.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says while there is much to agree on around the approach to human rights, there are areas still worth discussing.

She expresses concern about Conservative plans to update the Human Rights Act, worrying this would not lead to improvements.

Ms Smith confirms her intention to bring forward a member's bill that will introduce a statutory right to food, backed up with an independent statutory body.

There can be no doubt poverty must be tackled as an emergency, she states.

The Labour MSP goes on to highlight women's inequality is a human rights issue.

After more than 13 years of negotiations, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in 1998, external.

It has provided recognition of human rights defenders and increased their visibility, which also paved the way

Tory MSP Annie Wells reaffirms her party's support for human rights defenders, some of the "bravest" people in the world according to Amnesty International.

Ms Well says sadly 2018 has seen the highest number deaths of human rights defenders.

According to data collected by Front Line Defenders, 321 individuals in 27 countries were targeted and killed.

Image source, bbc

The Tory MSP points out the UN has adopted the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, external.

Ms Wells says the UK government reaffirmed its commitment to human rights defenders by publishing a policy paper in the summer.

She thanks all human rights defenders for their commitment and courage.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie highlights today is Human Rights Day and yesterday was the International Day of Human Rights Defenders.

If it were not for human rights defenders we would not have anything to celebrate on Human Rights Day, she says.

Ms McKelvie highlights human rights defenders and their loved ones often face physical attacks, harassment, legal action, and defamation of character.

In Scotland we are acting to support human rights defenders through the Scottish Human Rights Defender Fellowship she says, highlighting two recipients spending the semester at the University of Dundee.

"Human rights are universal and apply to all," she minister states.

She adds: "We are all human rights defenders."

Image source, University of Dundee

In October campaigners from Russia and Zambia began a three-month fellowship at the University of Dundee designed to support those at risk for their work in protecting human rights around the world.

Konstantin Baranov and Laura Miti were due to spend a semester at the University as part of the Scottish Human Rights Defenders Fellowship initiative, combining study and research with the chance to build relationships and share expertise with human rights and equality organisations.

The Fellowship is a partnership between the Scottish Government and the University of Dundee, supported by the campaign groups Front Line Defenders and Amnesty International.

Mr Baranov has worked with human rights groups in Russia and other post-Soviet countries for more than 15 years. As well as advocating and campaigning for the protection of human rights and human rights defenders nationally, he has worked with a number of international organisations to promote the adoption of human rights-based policy in foreign relations.

Read more of the University of Dundee article. , external