Violence Against Women Remains an Epidemic in Scotland, Anti-Sexist Organisation Warns

Strategic Insights -

Violence and harassment against women in Scotland remain a persistent and deeply ingrained problem, with anti-sexist organisation Engender urging that tackling abuse of women needs to begin at the grassroots level. After the sentencing of Sarah Everard's killer, Wayne Couzens, to life in prison, Rape Crisis Scotland warned that violence "is not inevitable" and could be halted by a major shift in culture.

Key Takeaways:

  • Almost all women in Scotland have experienced some form of harassment or violence in public, with 48% of women in the UK not feeling safe, despite 77% of both men and women agreeing Ms Everard's death was a defining moment in terms of the conversation around women and safety.
  • Only 22% of victims and survivors of rape and 12% of women who were victim-survivors of other types of sexual offence reported it to the police, highlighting the under-reporting of sexual violence and harassment in Scotland.
  • Engender's Alys Mumford warned that the police's handling of previous alleged incidents of indecent exposure, which were not fully investigated, is a clear indication that society lets perpetrators off the hook, allowing violence to continue.
  • Alys Mumford emphasized the need to address the culture that trivialises and condones rape and sexual violence, stating that "it's in the attitudes that exist that go unchallenged" and that organisations like the police need to take a hard look at themselves and how they understand women.
  • Rachel Adamson, co-director of charity Zero Tolerance, stated that men abuse, attack, and kill women because society lets them, and that the only way to prevent violence against women is to end gender inequality for good.
  • The Scottish Government's Delivering Equally Safe Fund includes £28 million for frontline services providing direct support to women and girls to maximise their safety and wellbeing.

Statistics:

  • 64% of women in Scotland have experienced sexual harassment or assault in the past.
  • 48% of women in the UK do not feel safe, despite 77% of both men and women agreeing Ms Everard's death was a defining moment in terms of the conversation around women and safety.
  • Only 22% of victims and survivors of rape and 12% of women who were victim-survivors of other types of sexual offence reported it to the police.
  • £28 million was allocated for frontline services providing direct support to women and girls to maximise their safety and wellbeing through the Scottish Government's Delivering Equally Safe Fund.

Sources:

  • Engender
  • Rape Crisis Scotland
  • Scotsman
  • Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019-20
  • ScotPulse survey
  • Grazia
  • Zero Tolerance
  • Scottish Government's Delivering Equally Safe Fund