Equality and human rights champion completes GCU summer graduations

Equality champion Yvonne Strachan CBE received an honorary degree on the final day of GCU's summer graduations, to round off a week where more than 2600 students graduated and Dr Annie Lennox was installed as the University's first female Chancellor.

As Scotland's first Head of Equality, Yvonne is credited with embedding equality, human rights and social justice at the heart of government.

She worked on the first governmental public campaign on race equality and on legislation in areas such as equality impact assessment and pay gap reporting.

Professor James Miller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of GCU, said: "Equality and human rights continue to require champions if we are to realise the ambition of a world where the threat to either is eliminated.

"Yvonne's leadership has been instrumental in shaping Scotland's approach to equality. It has helped secure forward-thinking on issues such as the integration of refugees and asylum seekers, tackling violence against women and LGBTI rights.

"As a direct result, Scotland has been described as having the world's most supportive environment for social enterprise."

Yvonne, who received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, told students at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: "Glasgow Caledonian is a remarkable university; it is forward-thinking, it is innovative and it is committed to the common good.

"We have come a long way on equality and human rights but there is no room for complacency. What happens to others matters to us all, and the gift of change is in all our hands.

"I hope you will take the ethos of GCU - for the common good - with you on your journey, wherever it may take you."