Scottish Government announces plans to tackle gendered violence

The Scottish Government has announced plans to address violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The latest Equally Safe Delivery Plan is focussed on prevention of abuse across Scotland’s diverse communities. This includes taking forward a specific approach to tackle honour-based abuse.

It also recognises the higher risk of abuse that women and girls with learning disabilities face and aims to ensure that relevant educational settings are equipped to teach pupils about healthy relationships and improve access to support services.

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Violence against women and girls is abhorrent and has no place in modern Scotland. Since 2021, frontline projects backed by our Delivering Equally Safe Fund have supported nearly 60,000 adults, children and young people, and we are determined to build on that progress.

“This plan sets out our sustained focus on prevention, improving support services and ensuring the justice response is robust.

“Gendered abuse can happen in any community and to ensure that it is tackled effectively and equitably for all women, we are strengthening our response to the diverse ways that violence and abuse can occur.

“That includes recognising that abusers could be extended family members rather than partners - like in some cases of honour-based violence - and ensuring tailored support is provided for vulnerable groups, including women with learning disabilities and migrants.”

The plan has been developed in partnership with The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

COSLA 's Community Wellbeing Spokesperson Councillor Maureen Chalmers said: “This Delivery Plan is a road map underpinning the next phase of COSLA’s and the Scottish Government's shared journey towards an Equally Safe Scotland for women and girls.

“We will work collaboratively over the next two years with key specialist and public sector partners, to achieve the delivery of these commitments through our collective energies. No one government, sector or service can prevent and tackle violence against women and girls alone.”