NICOLA Sturgeon has backed calls to eliminate sexism from the General Election campaign.
The First Minister said women candidates must not be subject to sexist or personal abuse in the run-up to the May 7 poll.
She was responding to calls from campaign group Women for Independence, which said one female SNP candidate had been described as a "political prostitute" since being selected to fight a seat.
The group said a female Labour candidate had been targeted in similar terms.
Women for Independence called on party leaders and activists to sign up to five pledges, including a ban on "personal abuse".
They also called for election panel debates to be gender balanced and said women must not be "objectified or subjected to sexist language or behaviour ".
SNP candidates who have played a leading role in the campaign group include Natalie McGarry, standing in Glasgow East, and Dr Philippa Whitford, contesting Central Ayrshire.
Jeane Freeman, a founder of Women for Independence, said: "Women across Scotland have been put off politics for many reasons but high up on the list is the sexist abuse they and other women are subjected to.
"Politics isn't about what you wear, how you look or who your partner is.
"If political parties really are serious about continuing winning women's support, they should not only sign up to this pledge but act on it."
Backing the campaign, Ms Sturgeon said: "I welcome and endorse this Women for Independence initiative and hope that all parties and candidates sign up to it.
"Political debate should be passionate and robust but it should never descend into personal abuse - and sexism and misogyny should never be tolerated.
"I want to see many more women get involved at all levels in politics and making sure that they have no reason to fear personal abuse is one way of helping that happen."
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