Meeting of the Parliament 05 December 2024
I refer colleagues to my entry in the members’ register of interests. Prior to my election, I worked for a rape crisis centre.
It is so important that, during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, we take time to consider what we are and are not doing to tackle the everyday sexism, violence and misogyny that women and girls around the world face. The debate is an opportunity to highlight the excellent work that is done by so many across Scotland.
For me, a highlight of this year came in February, when Monica Lennon and I co-hosted an event to celebrate the expansion from Tayside to the rest of Scotland of the young women know programme. We were delighted to meet many of the young women who are involved in the programme, to hear their stories and to share their vision and enthusiasm. Young women know is a campaign about healthy relationships and consent, which is led by young women and girls. It began with three local projects, including oor fierce girls in Dundee and brave lassies blether in Angus.
Oor fierce girls, launched in 2021, is a joint project between Dundee City Council and the Young Women’s Movement Scotland, which does excellent work across the country. It works by bringing together young women and girls to develop creative and relevant resources, including animations, to address peer sexual abuse. The campaign aims to make sure that every young woman and girl in Dundee knows what a healthy relationship is and where to go if they need advice or support. As a founding member of the group said,
“Conversations surrounding healthy relationships and creating a safe space are absolutely crucial. We owe it to the young people in our lives to help them understand how they deserve to be treated, and to provide them with a safe space to talk about their relationships ... to address peer sexual abuse comfortably, and without stigma.”
Brave lassies blether is a partnership programme between the Young Women’s Movement and NSPCC Scotland that is delivered with Angus Council. It works with young women aged 16 to 18 to create toolkits to support young people in their understanding of healthy relationships, consent and safe spaces. The messages of brave lassies blether include:
“We want young women to feel like they have a safe place to talk about issues they are having. That their experiences are not what will define them ... that there is always someone to speak to and they don’t have to struggle alone. Women’s voices matter. What we have to say matters.”
I am sure that many members, on hearing those words, will feel the same bittersweet ache. It is moving that young women have the wisdom and compassion to share that assurance with one another, but it is desperately sad that it is still needed.
Women’s voices matter. The north-east of Scotland has a rich tradition of women’s writing, art, politics and activism, and of speaking, sharing and making space for women to be heard. I have time to mention only a few this afternoon, but I pay tribute to all the groups and individuals who have spoken, organised and marched for our safety, our dignity, our autonomy and our liberation.
Aberdeen Women’s Alliance was the key organiser of the Aberdeen reclaim the night march that took place on Monday 25 November. The Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus and the Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership organised Dundee’s reclaim the night march on Friday 29 November.
The 16 days of activism in Dundee will end with an event at Abertay University next Tuesday entitled “Together we stand: a creative call for change”. In concluding, I echo those words: we must stand together, determined to make that change.
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