“All of society” must rise to meet challenge of gender-based violence, says Scottish First Minister

On Monday 4 March, First Minister Humza Yousaf and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth will launch a new Scottish Government framework designed to support schools to tackle gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence refers to behaviours ranging from name-calling, intimidation and physical violence to sexual harassment and emotional abuse.

The framework has been developed in collaboration with Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance and features testimony from young people and school staff and forms part of the Scottish Government’s wider response to challenges with behaviour in schools.

Speaking ahead of the launch, First Minister Humza Yousaf said:

“Our Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research, published in November 2023, identified a rise in misogyny as a worrying emerging trend within our schools. School staff pointed to an increase in sexist and misogynistic behaviour among male pupils, particularly related to negative male role models online. This was directed not only towards their peers, but also towards their female teachers, who of course make up the majority of the teaching profession. 

“We must do everything we can to curb the rise in such attitudes. It’s time to raise the level of the conversation in our society, being frank about the impact of the normalisation of misogynistic behaviours and attitudes in our society that too often go unchallenged. We will help to do that by providing tools to support a vision for a more positive view of what masculinity means and why it is important.

“That must happen at all levels of society, and – crucially – that journey must begin in our schools. By starting conversations amongst pupils that challenge societal views which normalise gender-based violence, it is my sincere hope that we can empower young people to be the generation that eradicates misogyny.”