Swinney commits to Scotland being ‘good global citizen’ on Africa trip

John Swinney declared he wants Scotland to be a “good global citizen” as he visited projects aimed at tackling gender equality as part of his visit to Zambia.

The First Minister said these showed how Scotland and the African country are “working side by side to make women and children safer in both our countries”.

He spoke ahead of visiting a Zambian police command centre on Thursday, where officers from Police Scotland are training officers on how to tackle sexual offences.

Mr Swinney will also meet staff at a one-stop centre at University of Zambia Teaching Hospital who provide a range of services to help victims of gender-based violence, and will take part in talks on the impact of projects supported by the money from the Scottish Government’s Women and Girls Fund.

In addition to this, the First Minister will meet people benefiting from initiatives helped by the Scottish Government’s Climate Just Communities programme, which has received £7.4 million.

And, on his last full day in Zambia, he will celebrate the relationship the African nation has with Scotland at a reception hosted by the Lusaka and District Caledonian Society.

Mr Swinney will leave Zambia on Friday, travelling to Malawi, before returning to Scotland at the start of next week.

Speaking ahead of his engagements on Thursday, the First Minister said: “I am determined that Scotland continues to be a good global citizen and I am immensely proud of the work the Scottish Government’s Women and Girls Fund does to advance gender equality here in Zambia, and in Malawi and Rwanda.

“Today will be a valuable opportunity for me to hear from partners who are delivering the projects supported by Scottish investment.

“I want to hear about some of the challenges and issues these organisations face when working toward the shared goal of gender equality.

“We are also committed to supporting the strong partnership between Police Scotland and the Zambian Police Service focused on tackling violence against women and children.

“I look forward to learning more about the training that is being delivered, then meeting staff at the one-stop centre providing vital care and support to victims of gender-based violence.”

The First Minister stressed: “It’s vital that we keep strengthening the collaboration between Scotland and Zambia on these issues – learning from each other and working side by side to make women and children safer in both our countries.”