Hansard

Gordon Lindhurst gave a unique historical perspective. At one point I wondered where he was going with his contribution, but he made some important points about modern-day slavery and the challenge of addressing human trafficking. I say to him and to Miles Briggs that we invest more than £700,000 in specialist agencies in the third sector—for example, Shakti Women’s Aid—that can give specialised and trusted support.

Clare Haughey spoke about the cycle of abuse and about how we need to overcome the barriers to reporting and seeking assistance. John Finnie and Monica Lennon made an important point that ran throughout the debate, which was about our discomfort with the phrase “honour-based violence”. I note that, yesterday, the Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani brought forward a motion for a private member’s bill on domestic violence that would stop the use of the term “honour killing”. She said yesterday that

“Language matters. The use of the term ‘honour’ to describe a violent criminal act—sometimes committed against a man, but more often against a woman—can be explained only as a means of self-justification for the perpetrator. It diminishes the victim and provides a convenient excuse for what in our society ... should accurately and simply”

be called

“murder, rape, abuse or enslavement.”—[Official Report, House of Commons, 31 January 2017; Vol 620, c 813.]

That summarises how we all collectively felt today in the chamber.

Female genital mutilation, along with other forms of so-called honour-based violence, demonstrates that even in the 21st century women are deprived of their most basic human rights just because of their gender. Our approach to tackling that imbalance of power is grounded in our gendered analysis of violence against women and girls. That approach recognises the complexity and the sensitivity that is required to make a difference to the lives of women and girls.

Our approach does not focus on just one area; it recognises the need to work in partnership to protect those who are at risk and to hold to account those who perpetrate the abuse. We recognise very much that communities have to be part of the solution. That point was made time and again during the debate, and our approach places communities firmly at the heart of what we are doing. Without engaging communities—men, women and girls—on so-called honour-based violence, and without empowering those who are affected to make their own choices while staying safe, we will not get anywhere. Only by learning from experts and ensuring that what we do is informed by the best level of community engagement can we hope to achieve our objective of a Scotland where FGM, forced marriage and all forms of honour-based violence have been consigned to history.

We do not underestimate how difficult it is for someone from a practising community to come forward. If it was easy, more people would have come forward and there might already have been prosecutions. However, as we know, looking at this complex issue through a narrow lens obscures the bigger picture, which is preventing people from coming forward. That makes our work to raise awareness among communities, to bring about attitudinal change and to encourage reporting of FGM by women, girls and men all the more important.

Although there have been no prosecutions in Scotland, let me be absolutely clear that anyone who is aware of FGM taking place has a legal and moral duty to report it. There is never any excuse for violence against women and girls, no matter how it is described. Those at risk will be protected and those who choose to perpetrate the practices will—rightly—face the consequences of their actions. Standing up to FGM and all other forms of violence against women is about much more than numbers; it is about the rights—the human rights—of women and girls at home and abroad.

We know that we need to work together with each other but, more important, we need to work with communities and front-line services. Whatever we do, it is important that it is the right approach for Scotland. I hope that the work that we are taking forward with our partners will help not only to prevent honour-based violence but to inform a response to the damaging consequences where it has occurred. Importantly, that work should also help affected communities to resist such violence and to understand that there is no good reason for women and girls to experience the harm that it brings.

I take the opportunity to thank again all our partners in all sectors who have worked so well in partnership with the Government. Their commitment and expertise are crucial. By acting together, we can contribute towards making a reality of the global aim of ending FGM along with other forms of so-called honour-based violence and all forms of violence against women and girls. I have absolutely no doubt that, in the Parliament, we have a desire for FGM and violence against women and girls in all its forms to be consigned to history. I thank everybody who participated in the debate.