Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 December 2025
02 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Violence against Women and Girls
Violence against women and girls can be physical, sexual or psychological. Violence against women and girls and misogynistic violence are on the increase. That is a fact.
The Scottish National Party’s equally safe strategy is failing, and we are facing a national emergency—and not just in digital terms. The number of sexual assault cases has risen by 4 per cent since 2024; the number of annually recorded incidents of domestic abuse has increased by nearly 55 per cent over 20 years; Scottish authorities have identified multiple child grooming clusters in Fife, North Lanarkshire and Inverclyde; and the number of rape and attempted rape cases has risen by 11 per cent since 2024.
Presiding Officer, I do not know who is talking, but I am finding it off-putting.
In Glasgow alone, 1,200 women have received treatment for female genital mutilation in the past five years.
Presiding Officer?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19970, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on uniting local and national efforts across sectors to en...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
As I open our annual debate marking the 16 days of campaigning against gender-based violence, I reflect once again on the continued importance of this debate...
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Violence against women and girls can be physical, sexual or psychological. Violence against women and girls and misogynistic violence are on the increase. Th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry, Ms White, but I just cannot hear what you are hearing. Please continue.
Tess White
Con
The Scottish Government’s definition of violence against women and girls views gender inequality as a root cause of such violence. Does the Scottish Governme...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I remind members who are seeking to speak in the debate to check that they have pressed their request-to-speak buttons. 15:13
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open the debate for Scottish Labour and to reaffirm our support for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. For more than 30...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Maggie Chapman to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Greens. You have up to six minutes. 15:20
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests: I worked for a rape crisis centre before I was elected. Deputy Presiding Officer, “You d...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am very glad to be opening for the Liberal Democrats in this important debate. Before I go any further, I thank Maggie Chapman for her typically excellent...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. 15:33
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
In this debate to mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, I think that we are united in our commitment to end violence against women and ...
Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Every year since I entered the Parliament in 2021, I have spoken in debates on sex-based violence and on the 16 days of activism. However, sadly, things are ...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Pam Gosal
Con
The SNP Government has this debate at this time every year and claims to be a champion of women’s rights. However, shockingly, it cannot even define the word...
Christine Grahame
SNP
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Please resume your seat, Ms Gosal. I call Christine Grahame.
Christine Grahame
SNP
I seek your guidance, Deputy Presiding Officer. Pam Gosal said that not one member of the SNP attended the vigil. I gave my apologies to her, and she accepte...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, Ms Grahame. That is not a point of order. Please continue, Ms Gosal.
Pam Gosal
Con
At the same time, the SNP refuses to call for a grooming gangs inquiry, all in the name of political correctness, and chooses to bury its head in the sand as...
Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this important debate during the 16 days of action to end gender-based violence. It is up to us all to work tog...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
As we mark the 16 days of activism, we have a chance to reflect on the on-going impact of violence against women on our society. The sad truth is that 60 per...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
At the outset of my speech, I want to be clear that men need to do better. There is no excuse for violence against women and girls and, as the statistics sho...
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am glad that the Scottish Government has brought to the chamber this debate on the importance of tackling violence against women and girls. Like other fema...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. The 16 days of activism campaign remains a stark reminder of the violence and abuse that fa...
Ash Regan (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind)
Ind
Digital technology has created new mediums for abuse, but let us be clear that technology is a tool, not the abuser itself. Technology simply creates new fro...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Paul McLennan is the final speaker in the open debate. 16:21
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP)
SNP
I am glad to speak in this debate. Normally, these debates are consensual, and I am a bit concerned about how this one has been politicised by Tory speakers—...
Tess White
Con
Will the member take a point of order?
Paul McLennan
SNP
Yes, if it is brief.