Violence Against Women

• At just 3.7% Scotland has one of the lowest rape conviction rates in the world and is the lowest in Europe
• 85% of the 49,655 domestic abuse cases reported in Scotland in 2007-08 were perpetrated by men on women
• 1 in 2 boys and 1 in 3 girls believe that there are some circumstances when it is okay to hit a woman or force her to have sex

Women and children have the right to live free from the threat of violence. Violence against women happens because women are denied an equal place in society. To end violence against women we need to challenge the daily infringements of women’s rights that chip away at their quality of life and inhibit their participation.

Engender supports

• Specialist courts with multi-agency risk assessment conferences in every area, violent offenders risk-assessed and the risk managed by multi-agency public protection boards
• A commitment to ensure that GP practices, A&E and elder services routinely enquire about rape, child sexual abuse and domestic violence
• Work that creates an understanding of women’s inequality as a cause and consequence of violence against women

 VAW NEWS

Jan 2012

End Violence Against Women Coalition's final submission to the Leveson enquiry criticises media  reporting of vaw as dehumanising women and victim blaming.  Read the submission

Dec 2011

EWL issue press release calling for committed EU action on violence against women and highlighting the effect economic downturn has on levels of violence. Read more

See events around Scotland to mark 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women here

UN Women issue 16-point policy agenda to mobilise world leaders to address violence against women.

Sept 2011 - Object campaign to end sexualization of women in the press - please ask your women's organisation to sign this letter to the PM.  Send signatures to anna@object.org.uk by 30th Sept.  Read the letter 

August 2011 - VAW Prevention Scotland have published a document containining reseach and resources on Female Genital Mutilation. Read more

July 2011 - End Violence Against Women (EVAW) publish VAW and Sport: A Literature Review  Download Report

April 2011 - The EWL supported new framework on combating violence against women (see dec news below) has been adopted by ministers of the Council of Europe.  States will sign the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence on May 11th in Istanbul.  Read more...

Feb 2011 - UK government ammendments threaten EU draft convention on vaw. Read the draft convention and the UK amendments

Feb 2010 - Read Engenders response to the proposed bill Criminalisation of the Purchase and Sale of Sex (Scotland).  Read the Zero Tolerance response

Dec 2010 - European Parliament Women's Committee have passed a resolution on the priorities and outline of a new EU policy framework to fight violence against women.  The resolution should be put before the full parliament in May.  Read the Report and Amendments.  

Dec 2010 - MSP Trish Godman is propsing a bill which would criminalise the purchase of sex and has issued a consultation paper.  The consultation is open until Feb 18th.  Please read and support - Criminalisation of the Purchase and Sale of Sex (Scotland) Bill 

Dec 2010 - The European Womens Lobby accuse the European Commission of failing to tackle violence against women  See EWL press release 

Nov 2010 - The government has announced that the proposal to provide anonimity for those accussed of rape in England and Wales will not be taken forward.  This decision was based on the report into the issue by the Ministry of Justice which found inconclusive evidence of to support the change.  Read the report

Sept 2010 - Womens Support Project produce leaflets addressing the common myths around the Adult Entertainment industry and Pornography.  See:  'Adult Entertainment or Exploitation'  and 'Porn - The reality behind the fantasy'.  

August 2010 - Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland launch campaign 'Making Recovery a Reality' which asks MSPs to ensure that funding for VAW services continues to be ring-fenced.  Read the campaign briefing and the pledge that ministers are being asked to sign here.

July 2010 - Rape Crisis Scotland's new campaign 'not ever' is  launched.  For the first time the campaign includes a tv advert. See http://www.notever.co.uk/