Scottish FM: “We must address men’s behaviour to tackle gender-based abuse.”

First Minister John Swinney will today lead a Scottish Government debate on preventing violence against women and girls highlighting the need for all parts of society to come together to tackle misogyny and inequality.

This follows the announcement of measures in this year's Programme for Government to prevent gender-based violence and support victims of abuse. That includes:

• Introducing new multi-year funding to support third sector organisations to provide women and girls with protection and crisis support.
• Making our £2 million Fund to Leave permanent, providing practical and financial support to women and children escaping abusive partners.
• Piloting GPS monitoring for individuals on bail, including those suspected of domestic abuse. 

First Minister John Swinney said:

Over the summer, I met Danielle MacDonald and heard about the years of violence and coercive control she suffered from her husband, and with Stacy Hunter's mother, who told me about the abhorrent abuse she suffered before her tragic death at the hands of a violent husband. Their powerful testimony highlighted the need for decisive action to tackle the scourge of violence against women and girls, in all its forms.

Such violence is caused by the behaviour and attitudes of men and we must do all we can to change and challenge that behaviour wherever we find it. Social media in particular poses a real danger in terms of circulating harmful attitudes and content to young men and boys and we all have a responsibility to counter that and promote positive male role models.

I have pledged my personal leadership to ensuring women's safety and tackling violence and abuse that women and girls face. Today's debate will highlight the importance of all parts of society coming together to prevent violence from ever happening in the first place, as well as ensuring survivors are supported and perpetrators brought to justice. The measures set out in our Programme for Government will support this work, helping to ensure women and girls can live their lives free from all forms of men's violence.