NICOLA Sturgeon has signed off on a bold 11-point plan aimed at propelling Scotland to the forefront of global gender equality.

The First Minister said the nation can become a “beacon for women’s rights” as it was announced the Scottish Government will take forward measures proposed by the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG).

It comes as the city prepares to host 350 world experts and delegates today and over the weekend at the 28th annual Conference of the International Association for Feminist Economics at Glasgow Caledonian University.

The NACWG submitted its report on gender equality to the First Minister in December. Among its recommendations, the council proposed there should be legislation for local and national candidate quotas to be introduced for all parties by the 2021 Holyrood election.

It also set out measures for improving access to justice for women and girls experiencing male violence, while also suggesting the creation of a resourced media body in Scotland to hold the media to account and provide guidance on gender equality.

Other proposals included the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women into Scots law.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed proposals for a What Works? Gender Institute to identify and promote best practice will be developed, while the Scottish Government is expected to become the lead partner in a Gender Beacon Collaborative in order to promote gender equality across Scottish public life.

A task force to look at gender equality in education and take forward existing work to improve access to justice for women and girls will also be established by the Government.

Ms Sturgeon also said ministers will continue to lobby the UK Government to take action to improve parental leave and support measures to encourage 50/50 representation at elections.

She said: “I appointed the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls to champion gender equality, to be bold and to push government to do more.

“Their first report contained an ambitious set of recommendations and I thank all those involved for their hard work. I am committed to making sure we drive forward improvements to gender equality in Scotland now and in the future.”

“By accepting the council’s recommendations we will learn from best practice in Scotland and around the world and work towards Scotland being a country where everyone is treated fairly and can achieve their full potential.”