The letter was organised by One Parent Families
Scotland, which offers practical support to single parents. (Image: Getty Images/Maskot) The three candidates vying to succeed Nicola Sturgeon have been urged to "challenge prejudice" by ensuring all types of families are treated as equal. A letter co-signed by 13 charities including Barnardo's and Save the Children has been sent to Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan as the SNP leadership campaign enters its last week. It asks whoever becomes the next First Minister to commit to making policies based on the principle that "all types of families are equally valid, valued and respected, whatever their make-up". The letter was organised by One Parent Families Scotland, which offers practical support to single parents. It follows an SNP leadership contest where candidates have been repeatedly quizzed on their social views. Forbes faced a backlash last month after she said her faith viewed having children outside of marriage was "wrong" and something she personally would "seek to avoid". Read More Related Articles Keir Starmer says SNP has 'lurched to right' and is 'falling apart' Read More Related Articles Humza Yousaf blasted after jokingly asking Ukrainian
Women ‘where are all the men?’ In a broadcast interview, the Finance Secretary said: "It's something that I would seek to avoid for me personally. "But it doesn't fuss me, it doesn't put me up nor down. The choices that other people make is [up to them]. "In terms of my faith, my faith would say that sex is for marriage and that's the approach that I would practice." The group of charities - which also includes Aberlour, Close the Gap, and Families Outside - said they looked forward to working with whoever becomes the next First Minister. The letter said: "It is our strong belief that our new First Minister must be seen by all of Scotland's children as a person who sees them as equal citizens and that their family is equally valued. "This is clearly expressed in the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Scottish Government has signed up to. "This international
Human Rights treaty sets out the rights of children, which includes that children should not face discrimination, ‘whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities, or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background’. "We are asking if you will you commit to policy-making that is based firmly on the principle that all families, whatever their make-up, are equally valid, valued, and respected?” MSP’s voted unanimously to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law in 2021, but the passage of the bill has been delayed by challenges to specific areas of the Bill by the
UK Government in relation to reserved powers. The Record has also launched a campaign - Our Kids, Our Future - which seeks to stamp out the growing trend of graphic videos being shared on
Social Media of teenagers being attacked by other youths. It also urges the Scottish Government and local councils to ring-fence funding to make sure every community has a place for teenagers to socialise safely. Scottish politics Forbes' husband attended Tory hustings Ash Regan campaign 'making progress'
Labour makes call for SNP transparency Rishi Sunak plan on small boats blasted Satwat Rehman, chief executive of One Parent Families Scotland, said: "We look forward to working with whomever becomes First Minister to challenge stereotypes and prejudice by celebrating and affirming that different families are equally valid so that children will not feel stigmatised or judged. "What really matters is that children are well cared for and loved." To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here . READ NEXT: SNP has 'no obvious successor' to Nicola Sturgeon as support for independence hovers around 50%
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