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Seòmar agus comataidhean

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls

  • Submitted by: Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
  • Motion reference: S6M-02286

That the Parliament recognises the importance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November and the 16 days of activism that follow, which focuses attention on the ongoing need for action; notes with concern reports that conditions created during the pandemic, including lockdowns and social isolation, are understood to have led to an alarming increase in male violence against women and girls; notes that gender-based violence encompasses acts that are likely to result in physical, sexual and mental harm, and considers that there are gaps in legislation to deal effectively with spiking, revenge porn, and other forms of misogynistic online abuse and bullying, incidents of which are all reportedly continuing to increase; further considers that, while the justice system should look at ways to use current laws and to create new laws to meet the challenges of these new types of abuse, gender-based violence is endemic in a society where sexism, misogyny and rape culture are often normalised; acknowledges the view that socio-economic factors can hinder women’s access to the justice system, sometimes resulting in under reporting of crime and stigma of speaking up, and believes that true gender equality is the only way to eliminate violence against women and girls.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Jackie Dunbar, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Rona Mackay, Ruth Maguire, Paul McLennan, Stuart McMillan, Carol Mochan, Audrey Nicoll, Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba