Scottish Government
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Tackling violence against women
A blueprint to crack down on violence against women in Scotland was launched yesterday by the Scottish Government and COSLA.
Safer Lives, Changed Lives - a Shared Approach to Tackling Violence Against Women in Scotland, outlines how the Government, local authorities and key support agencies will work together to tackle all forms of violence against women.
It aims to increase the focus on prevention and considers the best means to support those experiencing violence and abuse, including those more marginalised women and children;
Mr Neil said Scotland's efforts to tackle violence against women had attracted international recognition and led the way in the UK.
Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said:
"The protection of women and children from all forms of violence is one of our highest priorities and both the Scottish Government and local authorities.
"We must continue to move forward and to take whatever action is necessary to achieve our ultimate aim; to create a Scotland in which violence against women no longer exists.
"Through the Concordat, local and national Government in Scotland have a new relationship, based on the mutual pursuit of shared outcomes. This approach to violence against women exemplifies that relationship.
"For many decades Scotland has been at the forefront of work to tackle gender based violence, and we have received international recognition for our work. "
Sandy Brindley, Rape Crisis Scotland said:
"Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes the commitment of the Scottish Government to tackling all forms of violence against women.
"If we are serious about creating a Scotland in which there is no tolerance for violence against women, there needs to be strong leadership at both a national and local level in tackling this issue."
Cllr Harry McGuigan, COSLA's Community Well-being and Safety spokesperson said:
"Violence against women sorely wounds society in 21st century Scotland. Only by recognising and challenging all forms of violence against women as a violation of human rights and equality, and by services working collaboratively with women and children affected can we collectively heal this wound.
"There's excellent work to build on in ensuring safer lives for all women and children in Scotland - our next step must be to change lives by finding effective means to prevent this violence from occurring in the first place.
"Today's launch commits all of us to that challenging but fundamental agenda."
