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Equally Safe: Scotland's Strategy to Eradicate Violence Against Women

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Equally Safe: Scotland's Strategy to Eradicate Violence Against Women Equally Safe Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls 1. ‘There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.’ United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon Vision A strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse – and the attitudes that help perpetuate it Aim of Equally Safe To work collaboratively with key partners in the public, private and third sectors to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls Priorities Scottish society Women and Interventions are Men desist from all embraces equality girls thrive as early and effective, forms of violence and mutual respect, equal citizens – preventing violence against women and rejects all socially, culturally, and maximising and girls, and forms of violence economically and the safety and perpetrators of such against women and politically wellbeing of violence receive a girls women, children robust and effective and young people response Objectives Positive gender roles are promoted Women and girls are safe, respected and equal in our communities People enjoy healthy, positive Individuals and communities recognise relationships and children develop an and challenge violent and abusive understanding of safe, healthy, and behaviour positive relationships from an early age Women and men have equal access to Justice responses are robust, swift, power and resources consistent and coordinated Women, children and young people Men who carry out violence against access relevant, effective and integrated women and girls are identified early and services held to account by the justice system Service providers competently identify Men who carry out violence against violence against women and girls, and women and girls change their behaviour, respond effectively to women, children and are supported to do so and young people affected Women, children and young people’s Relevant links are made between the voices are heard and their rights experience of women,children and young respected people in the criminal and civil justice systems National Outcomes We live our lives We have tackled We have strong Our children have free from crime, the significant resilient and the best start in life disorder and inequalities in supportive and are ready to danger Scottish society communities succeed where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others We have improved Our public services We realise our full We live longer the life chances are high quality, economic potential healthier lives for children, young continually with more and people and families improving, efficient better employment at risk and responsive to opportunities for people’s needs our people Contents Foreword 6 1. What we are trying to achieve 10 Vision 10 Aim 11 Our strategic approach 11 Being aware of the national landscape 12 Our definition 12 Where we’ve come from 14 The scale of the problem 14 Developing a shared understanding 17 Violence against girls and young women 17 Children and young people 18 Intersectionality between gender and other characteristics 19 Violence against men 20 The international context 21 Prioritising prevention 22 2. Where we are now 26 Scotland today 27 Achieving gender equality and tackling inequality 27 Relevant policies 28 Relevant laws 29 Shaping opinion 30 Improving and increasing services for women, 30 children and young people Driving a stronger justice response 31 In conclusion 33 4. 3. Where we want to be 36 Introduction 36 Priority 1: Scottish society embraces equality and mutual 36 respect, and rejects all forms of violence against women and girls Priority 2: Women and girls thrive as equal citizens: socially, 38 culturally, economically and politically Priority 3: Interventions are early and effective, preventing 40 violence and maximising the safety and wellbeing of women, children and young people Priority 4: Men desist from all forms of violence against 43 women and girls and perpetrators of such violence receive a robust and effective response 4. How we will get there 48 Achieving the change 48 Leading the way 48 A phased approach 49 Workstreams 50 Action commitments 52 Everyone’s responsibility 54 Broad participation 54 Increased strategic priority 55 Making best use of resources 55 Measuring our progress 56 References 57 5. Foreword Violence against women and girls, in any form, has no place in our vision for a safe, strong, successful Scotland. It damages health and wellbeing, limits freedom and potential, and is a violation of the most fundamental human rights. The Scottish Government, CoSLA and key partners are committed to preventing and eradicating it once and for all. This strategy, which was originally published in 2014 and has now been updated, provides a framework to help us do that. It was developed by the Scottish Government and COSLA in association with a wide range of partners from public and third sector organisations. This updated version has been supported by further engagement with children’s organisations. We are immensely grateful to all those organisations for their support, and looking forward to working with them in implementing Equally Safe’s vision. Equally Safe is our country’s strategy to take action on all forms of violence against women and girls. By this we mean the violent and abusive behaviour carried out predominantly by men directed at women and girls precisely because of their gender. Behaviour that stems from systemic, deep-rooted women’s inequality, and which includes domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, commercial sexual exploitation (like prostitution), and so called ‘honour based’ violence like female genital mutilation and forced marriage. Whatever form it takes, violence against women and girls can have both an immediate and long-lasting impact on the women, children and young people directly involved. It is quite simply unacceptable for modern day Scotland and does not reflect the country of equality we aspire to become. This is not to say that we haven’t made progress in recent decades. The work of our partners and a wide range of organisations over many years has placed violence against women and girls firmly on the agenda. Significant investment in services and provision has been made by consecutive Scottish Governments and local authorities. The issue is a priority for Police Scotland and of key importance to statutory agencies who are serious in supporting victims and tackling perpetrators. 6. However, it is clear that much more needs to be done. We need to eliminate the systemic gender inequality that lies at the root of violence against women and girls, and we need to be bold in how we do that through prioritising a relentless focus on prevention. At the same time, we need to make the best use of resources and drive continuous improvement in ensuring that women and girls at risk of and experiencing violence and abuse receive joined up, effective mainstream and specialist service provision across Scotland. Each and every area of government and wider society has an important role to play in tackling this issue. Specialist organisations remain key in supporting those affected by violence and abuse of course, but it is not just an issue for them. It needs the engagement of the full range of interests including, local authorities, Police Scotland, the NHS, local authorities, the civil and criminal justice systems, social work, housing, media, the business sector, trade unions, third sector organisations and individuals and communities too. It is only by working together across every area of Scottish life that we will successfully prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls. This is a strategy that demands major and sustained change from us all so that we can create a Scotland to be proud of, where all our citizens flourish and are Equally Safe. Alex Neil MSP, Cllr Harry McGuigan, Cabinet Secretary for Social Community Wellbeing Justice, Communities and Spokesperson, CoSLA Pensioners Rights 7. 59,882 DOMESTIC ABUSE INCIDENTS 79% WERE RECORDED BY POLICE ACROSS THE UK, IN SCOTLAND IN 2014-15. 79% OF FORCED MARRIAGE CASES 79% OF ALL SUCH INCIDENTS INVOLVED FEMALE VICTIMS. HAD A FEMALE VICTIM AND MALE PERPETRATOR. 1 IN 3 GIRLS 4% OF WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED REPORT SOME FORM OF SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT SEXUAL VIOLENCE SINCE THE AGE OF 16. IN INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS. 1 IN 5 CHILDREN IN THE UK WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED 95% 1,901 RAPES OR ATTEMPTED DOMESTIC ABUSE RAPES WERE RECORDED BY BY THE TIME THEY REACH 18. THE POLICE DURING 2014-15. WHERE GENDER KNOWN, 95% HAD A FEMALE VICTIM. 59,882 DOMESTIC ABUSE INCIDENTS 79% 1. What we are trying to achieve WERE RECORDED BY POLICE ACROSS THE UK, IN SCOTLAND IN 2014-15. 79% OF FORCED MARRIAGE CASES 79% OF ALL SUCH INCIDENTS INVOLVED FEMALE VICTIMS. HAD A FEMALE VICTIM AND MALE PERPETRATOR. 1 IN 3 GIRLS 4% OF WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED REPORT SOME FORM OF SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT SEXUAL VIOLENCE SINCE THE AGE OF 16. IN INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS. 1 IN 5 CHILDREN IN THE UK WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED 95% 1,901 RAPES OR ATTEMPTED DOMESTIC ABUSE RAPES WERE RECORDED BY BY THE TIME THEY REACH 18. THE POLICE DURING 2014-15. WHERE GENDER KNOWN, 95% HAD A FEMALE VICTIM. 1. What we are trying to achieve ‘There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.’ – Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General ‘Gender based violence is a function of gender inequality, and an abuse of male power and privilege. It takes the form of actions that result in physical, sexual and psychological harm or suffering to women and children, or affront to their human dignity, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.
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