Meeting of the Parliament 24 November 2015
We will certainly be looking at that. We need to establish the incidence of domestic abuse over the country, then where it is happening in the country and then look at resources and targeting. Work is still being done on that, and we will certainly not disregard it.
We are in the process of updating equally safe to reflect the developments since the summer of 2014, and the joint strategic board will consider the update over the next few weeks. That emphasises that the strategy—this might help to answer Mary Scanlon’s question—is a living document, and we will work with COSLA and others to ensure that it remains so and that we can maintain a relentless focus on improvement.
In taking this agenda to the next level, we recognise that the issue is not confined to the justice portfolio; nor is it a problem for the third sector to solve alone. It is an agenda that spans Government. As Minister for Housing and Welfare, I have an interest in ensuring that social landlords and homelessness services can play their part in early intervention and that the new social security powers that are being devolved to the Parliament are designed in a way that embeds flexibility and choice for women.
This debate coincides with the international day for the elimination of violence against women, but it is about much more than that important symbol. As I have illustrated, the debate also comes at a time when the Scottish Government and our partners are reinforcing that domestic abuse is inexcusable, entirely unacceptable and can never be justified. The debate also comes at a time when we are taking action to eliminate domestic abuse. Above all, this debate must mark the Parliament’s clear aim and vision to eradicate from our society the scourge of violence against women and girls, so that everyone can live equally safe.
I move,
That the Parliament welcomes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 24 November 2015, marking the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence; commends the ongoing contribution of people and organisations across Scotland and the wider world toward raising awareness and changing the outdated attitudes that still persist in society in relation to gender-based violence; notes continuing progress to take forward Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy on preventing and eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls; welcomes the inaugural meeting of the Equally Safe Joint Strategic Board, co-chaired by the Scottish Government and COSLA, on 11 November; notes that, on the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the agreement of the new Sustainable Development Goals, women and girls across the world continue to experience violence and abuse, and calls on everyone in Scotland to play their part in creating a strong and flourishing country where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse and the attitudes that help perpetuate it.