Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 December 2013
17 Dec 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Violence against Women
I take this opportunity to highlight the invaluable work of the many organisations that are involved in helping women and children affected by violence against them. I give credit to the present Government and previous Governments for the continued importance that they have attached to this very emotive subject. I am sorry that the debate is not consensual, but I hope that we can continue to focus on why we are here, which is to try to help. I agree with Jackie Baillie: I do not want to come back to another debate on violence against women; I want to eradicate it. I hope that we can do that.
We had debates on this topic last month. Jackie Baillie had one, and I had one on Glasgow Women’s Aid’s 40th anniversary, in which I talked about the work that that organisation does to provide support and refuge for women, children and young people who experience many forms of domestic abuse. The continuing hard work and dedication of organisations such as Women’s Aid and others mean that people suffering in an abusive relationship feel confident enough to come forward—that is an important point to remember—in the knowledge that support is out there.
I note the Labour amendment. I want to quote Lily Greenan, the manager of Scottish Women’s Aid—I hope that Jackie Baillie and the Labour Party are listening. She said:
“We expect reported incidents of domestic abuse to continue to rise as the awareness of domestic abuse increases, professionals receive more training and as a result, women are encouraged to report the abuse they are experiencing to police ... We commend the high priority Police Scotland has given to tackling domestic abuse since its establishment in April this year.”
I think that we have to listen to the experts on that point.
It is also worth noting that, as the minister said, funding has increased by more than 60 per cent since 2007 to £34.5 million for the period 2012 to 2015.
I welcome the proposed strategy, which is aimed at tackling all forms of violence against women. I look forward to the consultation and subsequent publication of the strategy next summer. I am very pleased that female genital mutilation will be part of the project and the consultation.
It might surprise Margaret Mitchell and the Conservatives to hear this, but I agree with the comments made by the leader of their party, Ruth Davidson, about the number of repeat victims, which continues to stand at around two thirds of reported domestic abuse victims. Members should listen for a minute. The fact that much of that abuse takes place in the home makes it very difficult for the abuser to be brought to justice, which leads to such behaviour being repeated. I think that we all agree that the cycle must be broken, but if we are to tackle the issue effectively, surely we have to look at corroboration, the requirement for which is preventing abusers from going to trial. Most incidents of domestic abuse, rape and violence against women take place behind closed doors with only the two people present. I agree with Ruth Davidson’s comments and I hope that Margaret Mitchell also agrees with them. If abusers get away with it once, they will get away with it many other times.
The abolition of corroboration is one of the big measures that will ensure that more of the cases we are talking about can be brought to court and that justice can be seen to be done.
I note Alison Johnstone’s amendment, which was not selected. I believe that the sentiment in it is certainly worth noting.
We had debates on this topic last month. Jackie Baillie had one, and I had one on Glasgow Women’s Aid’s 40th anniversary, in which I talked about the work that that organisation does to provide support and refuge for women, children and young people who experience many forms of domestic abuse. The continuing hard work and dedication of organisations such as Women’s Aid and others mean that people suffering in an abusive relationship feel confident enough to come forward—that is an important point to remember—in the knowledge that support is out there.
I note the Labour amendment. I want to quote Lily Greenan, the manager of Scottish Women’s Aid—I hope that Jackie Baillie and the Labour Party are listening. She said:
“We expect reported incidents of domestic abuse to continue to rise as the awareness of domestic abuse increases, professionals receive more training and as a result, women are encouraged to report the abuse they are experiencing to police ... We commend the high priority Police Scotland has given to tackling domestic abuse since its establishment in April this year.”
I think that we have to listen to the experts on that point.
It is also worth noting that, as the minister said, funding has increased by more than 60 per cent since 2007 to £34.5 million for the period 2012 to 2015.
I welcome the proposed strategy, which is aimed at tackling all forms of violence against women. I look forward to the consultation and subsequent publication of the strategy next summer. I am very pleased that female genital mutilation will be part of the project and the consultation.
It might surprise Margaret Mitchell and the Conservatives to hear this, but I agree with the comments made by the leader of their party, Ruth Davidson, about the number of repeat victims, which continues to stand at around two thirds of reported domestic abuse victims. Members should listen for a minute. The fact that much of that abuse takes place in the home makes it very difficult for the abuser to be brought to justice, which leads to such behaviour being repeated. I think that we all agree that the cycle must be broken, but if we are to tackle the issue effectively, surely we have to look at corroboration, the requirement for which is preventing abusers from going to trial. Most incidents of domestic abuse, rape and violence against women take place behind closed doors with only the two people present. I agree with Ruth Davidson’s comments and I hope that Margaret Mitchell also agrees with them. If abusers get away with it once, they will get away with it many other times.
The abolition of corroboration is one of the big measures that will ensure that more of the cases we are talking about can be brought to court and that justice can be seen to be done.
I note Alison Johnstone’s amendment, which was not selected. I believe that the sentiment in it is certainly worth noting.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08612, in the name of Shona Robison, on violence against women. We are incredibly short for time, so memb...
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
On behalf of the Scottish Government, I am delighted to open this debate and to have an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s unreserved commitment to tac...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I very much regret the necessity for the debate. I believe that all members across the chamber regret the fact that, in 21st century Scotland, we are still d...
Shona Robison
SNP
Does Jackie Baillie welcome, as I do, the focus that Police Scotland now has on ensuring that repeat offenders are kept under observation?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I absolutely do, and I will talk about Police Scotland in a minute.Scottish Women’s Aid tells us that two women will be murdered each week by their partner o...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome today’s debate, which has become an annual one because, sadly, the vexing problem of violence against women and children is not diminishing but is,...
Shona Robison
SNP
On the issue of prosecution, does Margaret Mitchell recognise that, where an incident of domestic abuse resulted in a crime or offence being recorded, a repo...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I acknowledged that increase, and the awareness-raising work, at the beginning of my speech.To its eternal shame, the SNP voted against the amendment to the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate. We are extremely tight for time, so I will allow speeches of four minutes. That could change, so it would be helpful if members c...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I take this opportunity to highlight the invaluable work of the many organisations that are involved in helping women and children affected by violence again...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
I need to ask you to start winding up.
Sandra White
SNP
We have mentioned domestic violence, but we also need to look at the austerity measures that are coming from the Westminster Government, particularly the bed...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am sorry, Ms White, but you have gone over four minutes.16:33
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
We live in a country that recognises prostitution as violence against women, but we continue to prosecute the abused while letting the perpetrator off scot f...
Sandra White
SNP
I was at the same meeting and met the same people as Rhoda Grant. I listened to them, and not once did those people blame the Scottish Government at all. I a...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I am not talking about the content of the meeting that Sandra White and I attended—that was from someone who spoke to me.The Scottish Government had the oppo...
Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member is just winding up.
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Scotland will end up becoming a haven for prostitution, for gangsters and for traffickers who see us as being complicit in the trade. At some point, somebody...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am sorry, but your time is up, Ms Grant.16:37
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
It is important to recognise that, although we have taken huge strides towards eliminating violence against women and towards changing a culture that had acc...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
James Dornan
SNP
The only thing on which I agree with Margaret Mitchell is the hope that this is not an annual debate.16:41
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The phrase “violence against women” is made up of three little words, but involves so much pain. It encompasses domestic abuse, rape, child sexual abuse, sex...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
There are two distinct but entwined threads in this debate. The first is that men’s violence against women continues to blight our country and to cause immen...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Will you start winding up, Ms McKelvie?
Christina McKelvie
SNP
A further 141 cases were reported to the national sex crimes unit but had not been in court. The situation creates a double negative, in that judges do not s...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
The motion reminds us of“the valuable contribution that voluntary and third sector organisations have made to the shaping of Scotland’s approach to violence ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
Violence against women is a profound societal and cultural problem, but it is also perpetuated and reinforced by many of the products of that culture, which ...