With violence against women and girls (VAWG) declared a ‘national emergency’ earlier this year, the Scottish Government is stepping up efforts to address this pressing issue. In July 2024, the National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that 3,000 crimes of VAWG are recorded every day across the UK, and the true number is likely far higher, given the fact that most crimes go unreported. In response to this ongoing crisis, Scotland has recently unveiled the latest iteration of its Equally Safe Delivery Plan, a comprehensive strategy designed to prevent violence, support victims, and ensure justice for all women and girls across the country.
But what impact will these new plans actually have? From addressing honour-based violence to enhancing education’s role in prevention, this article explores the Scottish Government’s latest measures and how they aim to improve safety and protection for women today.
What is Equally Safe?
To understand the new updates, it’s important to know what Equally Safe is. Launched in 2014, Equally Safe is Scotland’s national strategy to prevent and address all forms of violence against women and girls. It specifically targets violence, abuse, and exploitation directed at women because of their gender. Working closely with local authorities and key organisations, the strategy aims to create a Scotland where every woman and girl can live free from fear and harm.
Since its launch, almost 60,000 people have received support through projects funded by Equally Safe. The latest updates aim to build on this progress by addressing emerging challenges and ensuring that support services reach everyone who needs them, including women from minority ethnic groups and those with learning disabilities.
The scale of the problem
VAWG remains a widespread and deeply entrenched issue in Scotland. In the 2022-23 period, 14,602 sexual crimes were recorded by Police Scotland, with at least 37% of those crimes involving victims under the age of 18. Despite these shocking figures, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey reports that only 22% of rape survivors come forward to the police.
Online violence is also on the rise, with 3,830 sexual crimes being classified as cyber-crimes in 2022-23, a sharp increase from previous years. Additionally, 64,807 domestic abuse incidents were recorded in 2021-22, 81% of which involved female victims and male perpetrators. These statistics paint a stark picture of how prevalent and complex violence against women remains in Scotland, highlighting the urgency of the new plan.
Key updates in the Equally Safe Plan
The new delivery plan spans from 2024 to 2026 and introduces several new initiatives aimed at tackling VAWG in all its forms. The plan addresses not only traditional forms of domestic abuse but also lesser-understood forms like honour-based violence, online abuse, and the compounded inequalities faced by minority women and girls. Here are some of the highlights:
- Honour-based violence
For the first time, Scotland’s strategy includes a specific approach to addressing honour-based violence. This form of abuse is often committed by extended family members and is rooted in cultural practices. Honour-based violence can include threats, assault, and forced marriage, and victims are often punished for bringing ‘shame’ to their family. Recognising this, the government will work with minority ethnic communities and organisations to provide tailored support to survivors. - Supporting women with learning disabilities
Women with learning disabilities are at a higher risk of violence, but often face additional barriers to accessing support services. The new plan aims to change this by improving education on healthy relationships in schools and making justice services more accessible. This includes the creation of an accessibility audit tool for support services, ensuring that women and girls with learning disabilities can receive the help they need. - A focus on prevention through education
Education is key to preventing VAWG before it happens. The new plan expands on existing initiatives to improve relationship education, particularly for vulnerable groups. Schools will be equipped with better resources to teach students about boundaries, consent, and respect, aiming to foster a culture of healthy relationships. - Sustainable and holistic support services
The government has committed to funding vital support services, recognising that recovery from gendered violence is a long-term process. The Delivering Equally Safe Fund provides £19 million annually to support 121 projects across Scotland. Additionally, The Victim Centred Approach Fund, launched in 2022, will provide £48 million through to 2025, with £18.5 million specifically dedicated to advocacy services for survivors of gender-based violence.
The 14 deliverables for 2024-2026
As part of the plan, the Scottish Government has committed to 14 key deliverables, addressing areas such as:
- Intersectionality: The plan will promote an intersectional approach to tackling VAWG, recognising that women from different backgrounds—such as those from minority ethnic groups or those with disabilities—face compounded inequalities.
- Extended family abuse: The government will also develop specific approaches to tackle extended family abuse, ensuring that this form of violence, which doesn’t always fit neatly into traditional definitions of domestic abuse, is effectively addressed.
- Improved data collection: Recognising the need for better data, the plan includes commitments to improve how information on VAWG is collected and shared across sectors, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of violence in Scotland, help is available. You can reach out to:
- Scottish Women’s Aid: Call 0131 226 6606 for support with domestic abuse.
- Rape Crisis Scotland: For immediate help, call 08088 01 03 02.
- Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre: Call 08088 00 00 14.
- Victim Support Scotland: Call 0800 160 1985 for confidential support.
You are not alone, and these services are here to provide help and support at any stage of your journey to recovery.
