Tomorrow we will mark International Human Rights Day - and the end of the annual, international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Every year, for the last 30 years, the 16 Days campaign shines a light on how pervasive - and destructive - violence against women and girls is.

And it serves as a stark reminder of how far we still need to go. For all the progress that has been made; we cannot let up, we must continue to strive for a more equal world, and do our part to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that let this happen.

This is a theme that I, and my fellow Labour colleagues, will be talking about a good deal at today’s Full Council meeting.

During the pandemic, violence against women globally worsened. Nearer to home, we saw the horrendous murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.

But these aren’t the only cases - and are not the only way that violence against women manifests itself. For example, today, my friend and colleague, Marie Garrity, will make a stand for victims of domestic violence.

Marie has spoken out about her own experiences, as a survivor of domestic abuse. She will today call on the Council to help its tens of thousands of staff to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and offer their support, through training. It was a colleague who first spotted the signs and helped Marie break the cycle of violence. This has the potential to help so many women.

And on the subject of keeping women safe at work. My colleague Maggie McTernan will call for parking fees to be waived or discounted for the predominantly female workforce of our charity and voluntary organisations, when they’re working at night. Increasing numbers of staff are concerned that, as parking fees continue to rise, they are forced to park further and further away from their place of work. It’s not right and it’s not fair.

Because all workers have the right to be safe going to or from, or while at, work. But it’s especially important for women.

Some women might also find themselves in a situation where, coming home from work, they are confronted with the choice of taking a 20 minute detour along empty streets, or a shorter 5 minute walk through a dark park. Most will choose the detour, because it feels safer.

But in a City that prides itself on being the Dear Green Place, should we not all enjoy the right to go into a park after 4.30pm in Winter? Why is it okay for lights from Botanic Gardens to be seen all across the City when there are ticket sales involved, but not for people who want to go for a jog, a walk or a cycle in Ruchill Park or Kings Park?

That is why I am especially proud to join my newest colleague, Jill Brown, in raising Radio Clyde’s ‘Light the Way’ campaign for lighting installations to make our parks accessible to all people, all year round.

A campaign that was prompted by the experiences of women who had come up against the ‘official’ view that parks should be closed off at night because it might be unsafe.

This attitude is precisely part of the problem.

Why should women be excluded from places, or activities, or anything, because others deem that it might be a risk to them? Why isn’t the focus on making others change their attitudes and behaviours so that women aren’t subject to those fears?

Speaking 10 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt famously said:

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?” In small places, close to home -- so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world….Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.”

Unless these rights - to live freely, safely and without fear - have meaning in our homes, our workplaces and yes, indeed, our parks, they have little meaning anywhere.