Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Official Report 1034KB pdf

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Gender-based Violence

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-01820, in the name of Paul McLennan, on the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak button as soon as possible or to put an R in the chat function.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament notes that 25 November 2021, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10 December 2021, Human Rights Day, are the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence; understands that 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the Global 16 Days Campaign; recognises that this year’s theme is femicide, calling for awareness, action and accountability, all year round; notes the view that all men must take action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls; praises the work of organisations working towards tackling violence against women across Scotland, including Zero Tolerance, Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and White Ribbon Scotland; welcomes these global days of action, intended to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls, and condemns any such violence.

17:31  

I recently met staff from and women supported by Women’s Aid East and Midlothian. I heard about the experiences of women who have fled from domestic abuse and I had the opportunity to understand the impact that the violence that they were subject to has had on them and their children. Those brave women had their lives turned upside down after finding the courage to escape their abusers. Thankfully, they were able to do so safely.

Recent figures show that, every three days in East Lothian, a woman suffers and reports domestic abuse—and that is only the cases that are reported. The women told me that, since leaving, they have faced challenges in finding a home to call their own, because services are not designed to support women who flee violence.

About 10 years ago, when I was a council leader, I took part in an event that was organised by Scottish Women’s Aid and White Ribbon Scotland. The exercise involved looking at what happens when a case is reported and how many people and organisations it impacts on. It started with a ball of string that represented the woman reporting domestic abuse, which was then passed to people from all the affected organisations. By the end, about 30 of us were standing up. That has stayed with me to this day.

Today’s debate pays homage to the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which is a time to galvanise action to prevent and end violence against women and girls around the world. I am aware that this is the third debate that we have had on the issue in the past 16 days, and I thank everybody who has contributed to these debates so far.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the global 16 days campaign. This year, inspired by the original vision and history of the campaign, which focused on raising awareness about violence against women, the campaign will focus on the issue of femicide, or the gender-related killing of women. That theme feels especially pertinent this year, after the high-profile murder of Sarah Everard by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens. Sadly, Sarah’s murder is not an isolated incident. Since the beginning of 2021, there have been at least 122 cases in the United Kingdom in which a woman has been killed by a man or a man is the principal suspect.

In that period, I have done a lot of reflecting on my role as a man in preventing acts of violence of any kind against women. Last month, Police Scotland launched the incredibly important “Don’t be that guy” campaign, which calls on men to consider their potential responsibility for violence against women. The campaign is explicit and the information on it states:

“Men: we can make a real difference by taking a hard look at our attitudes and behaviour, at home, at work and socialising with our mates.”

As men, we need to stop contributing to a culture that targets, minimises, demeans and brutalises women. We need to talk openly to our male friends and relatives about behaviour that is damaging to women and that puts men at risk of offending. We need to take women’s safety seriously—we cannot say that enough—and we need to do so not just when a woman is murdered but all year round. We must shift the way that we understand violence against women. It is not a women’s problem; it is our problem, and it always has been. To do that, we need to redefine violence in our minds.

I recently spoke in a debate about street harassment at the Scottish National Party conference, which was led by my colleague Sally Donald. Street harassment is an everyday occurrence for women and girls in Scotland. I ask the minister to say in his summing up whether he will meet Sally and me to discuss the issue in more detail.

Graham Goulden, formerly of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit in Glasgow, has called on us men to define violence in a way that would help us individually to prevent it. In a blog for the “Don’t be that guy” campaign, he says:

“When I see the term violence, I look at it as more an attitude, a behaviour, rather than a physical act. When we do this, we can start to address behaviours and attitudes that can, if unchallenged, lead to other acts of violence like murder, sexual assault, and rape. ... When we don’t focus on these behaviours, when we remain silent about what we see and hear, we give permission for abuse and violence to take place.”

Graham could not be more correct.

Violence against women is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality in our society. Gender stereotypes are enforced from an early age, rape culture and harmful behaviours are normalised, and survivors are blamed for their abusers’ actions.

We place responsibility on women to be careful, not to walk home alone—I have heard the comment that they should wear flat shoes—to watch their drink on a night out and to cover up, instead of teaching men not to rape, spike and harm women.

That approach has never been acceptable. I want to see a Scotland where women and girls thrive as equal citizens—socially, culturally, economically and politically. I want to live in a Scottish society where women and girls are safe, respected and equal in our communities, where women and men have equal access to power and resources, and where positive gender roles are promoted.

We need to embed gender competency into our policy making and embed gender-based budgeting into everything that we do. Scotland’s equally safe strategy is taking strides towards achieving that goal, but we all have our own role in turning the vision into reality.

It is the responsibility of us all—especially men—to change the culture that we live in that trivialises and condones violence against women and girls. I have a challenge for every male MSP. This time next year, we all need to be able to stand here, put our hand on our heart and say that we have played our part in speaking out against male violence against women—not just today or in the 16 days of the campaign, but every single day.

I am in the process of organising a round-table event for all male MSPs with organisations that are involved in the campaign to support women. I am also arranging a parliamentary reception with the same groups. I hope that the dates for those events will be before Easter.

To conclude the opening of this debate on the annual 16 days of activism, I pay tribute to the strength and resilience of survivors and to the organisations, such as Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance, Scottish Women’s Aid and White Ribbon Scotland, that work day and night to support women who have experienced male violence. I want to remember all the women who have not made it this far—those who have lost their lives to male violence.

I end on a quote from the former secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon:

“there is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.”

I advise colleagues that, understandably, there is a large amount of interest in participating in the debate and it is likely that we will have to extend it. We will do that at the appropriate stage in the debate.

17:38  

I thank Paul McLennan for lodging the motion and I acknowledge the resilience of women and girls who are experiencing, or have survived, gender-based violence in Scotland and beyond.

Last week, during our second debate on the topic, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans made a valid point that the experiences of female veterans had not been mentioned. He alluded to the experience of women in the armed forces and made reference to his recent visit to a veterans’ facility in Fife that was supporting a survivor of gender-based violence.

I will pick up on that issue today, but, first, I pay tribute to all women serving in, and veterans of, our military, for their commitment, bravery and sacrifice in safeguarding our national security.

There are more than 20,000 servicewomen in our armed forces. Women can now apply for all the same roles as men, and there is no doubt that the armed forces provide women with fulfilling careers and vast opportunities. However, for many women in the military, their experience is very different.

Earlier this year, the United Kingdom Parliament’s Defence Committee, following its inquiry into the situation of and challenges facing women in the armed forces today, published its report, “Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life”. The report found:

“There is too much bullying, harassment and discrimination, and criminal behaviour—such as sexual assault and rape—affecting Service personnel”,

and there is no doubt

“that female Service personnel suffer disproportionately.”

It goes on:

“The stories that we heard are truly shocking and they gravely concern us. They are also disappointing given the MOD’s commitment to ending unacceptable behaviours”.

The report continues:

“this behaviour is harming the health, careers and operational effectiveness of our Service personnel and has no place in the military. ... The Forces and the MOD must root out these behaviours and must respond better when they occur.”

The report also explored the experiences of female veterans and concluded that, although many reported positive experiences transitioning to civilian life, many reported challenges relating to physical or mental health issues, relationship problems, debt and unemployment.

Dr Beverly Bergman of the Scottish veterans health research group highlighted that there are very few female-specific veterans services in the UK, noting that many women prefer gender-specific services,

“especially if they have been the victim of sexual or domestic abuse or harassment.”

Work is now under way to address many of the issues addressed in the report.

The findings in the report are stark and they must offer an opportunity for change. The Scottish Government strategy, “Support for the Veterans and Armed Forces Community”, outlines our approach to supporting veterans across issues including mental health, homelessness and substance misuse, and sets out the vital role of the Scottish veterans fund, the unforgotten forces consortium, and third-sector partners and charities—all under the watchful eye of our Scottish veterans commissioner.

However, support for women remains limited. Although there are programmes such as the women returners programme, which supports women back into work, there is so much more to do to address the specific challenges that women face as a result of the impact of gender-based violence.

I recognise that defence is a reserved matter, but nonetheless I urge the Scottish Government to use the powers that it has to ensure that women are front and centre in our continuing efforts in tackling the issue. I look forward to working with the cabinet secretary and the minister on that important work.

17:42  

Last week, I spoke in another debate about violence against women and girls. It is proper—indeed necessary—for us to be debating the topic again today. I congratulate Mr McLennan on securing the debate. Many of last week’s speakers highlighted the reality for women and girls in modern Scotland. This reality can include everyday experiences of discrimination and misogyny—and then there are the sexual assaults and rapes, drink-spiking predators, violence and abuse in the home, trafficking for sex, stalking, revenge porn and the pressure on young girls to act in a sexualised way. One revelation was that, on average, a woman is killed by a man every three days in the United Kingdom.

The common denominator in all of that is men. Society is beginning to understand that it is on men to accept wrongdoing, to change and to challenge others. As Mr McLennan said, we all bear responsibility.

Last week, I spoke about Esther Brown who was sexually violated and beaten to death in her own home by a registered sex offender, whose 23 previous convictions include the rape of another woman in her home. I asked questions of Police Scotland on behalf of some of Esther’s friends, but we were fobbed off. Despite the rhetoric of compassion, the impersonal criminal justice system suffers from entrenched secrecy. That secrecy, and an accountability vacuum, means that victims will continue to be failed.

Today, I would like to speak about another disturbing case in which I have had direct involvement. It is a partially told account of a paedophile ring operating in the heart of Edinburgh. In 1997, a girl aged 10 accused a man called David Scott of sexually abusing her. She says that she was not believed and that she was punished for speaking out. She tried to take her own life. She lives with the trauma of abuse every single day.

In 2018—more than 20 years later—Scott was finally jailed for sexually abusing her and five other girls over a 45-year period. Why, his victims ask, was that prolific paedophile free to target other children for two decades?

After reporting on that horrific case for the BBC, I spoke with the family of one of Scott’s later victims. She was aged eight when the abuse began. However, Scott did not act alone. The girl gave the police a detailed account of being targeted by five other men at a flat in Blackfriars Street, which is only half a mile from this spot. She saw Scott taking cash from the men, and her family urged the police to investigate.

Just last week, one of those men was jailed for 11 years for abusing this same girl, and a boy. Gary Thomson is that man: he was the tenant of the Blackfriars Street flat. Only now is the link between Thomson and Scott being made public. Evidence of paedophiles colluding in organised abuse is shocking and obscene. What of the other men in the flat? Police Scotland tells me that inquiries are continuing.

Anyone who has any concerns or who is seeking information on abuse should go to the website of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The next time that a child speaks out, they must be listened to.

I conclude by echoing Mr McLennan’s comments that activism and awareness are not just for 16 days; they should be for every single day.

17:46  

First, I thank Paul McLennan for bringing this subject to members’ business this evening. I apologise to you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and to members, as I will have to leave a wee bit early to attend a session with the Presiding Officer this evening. I hope that members know that I am absolutely committed to this important issue. This is the third time that I, like others, have spoken on it in the past couple of weeks.

In recent times, we have witnessed an increase in domestic violence, the murder of women and so on. That is a reminder, if it was ever needed, that, sadly, violence against women is endemic in our society, and it is a global problem. We face the endemic problem of violence against women by men not just in Scotland and the UK, but across the world. We must do our bit.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, violence against women is men’s violence against women. When some men say, “It’s not all men,” they are perhaps missing the point. Of course not all men are violent. The point that I hope Paul McLennan is trying to make—and I agree—is that men must be part of the solution. We cannot do it without men. Men must address the problem among their own sex.

The issue of violence against women has probably not had the highest priority that it should have. This Parliament must make a difference. We must believe that, by the end of the four-and-a-bit years that we still have to go in this session, we will begin to change the picture and reverse the statistics. For decades, there has been a lack of male voices speaking about violence against women. I hope that that is changing—and it may be changing.

It is important to have a serious analysis of why women are subjected to everyday sexism and workplace sexism. The speeches that have been made already have addressed different parts of our society, but sexism is everywhere we might want to look. I recently read the story about women in the military, who said that it became commonplace for them to be expected to be groped in training sessions. That is in our military—and we know that we have endemic problems in our police service, too.

I believe that there is a big connection with what happens in our schools and the way that women and girls are treated. I was shocked to watch the recent BBC documentary with Zara McDermott, “Uncovering Rape Culture”, which examined the burgeoning rape culture in British schools. Last week, I called for an assessment of whether we have that problem in Scotland. I would be surprised if we did not. It was shocking to learn that boys as young as nine or 10 were viewing online pornography, and I believe that that affects the way that they view girls and understand sex.

A recent report by academics from University College London and the University of Kent, among other institutions, highlighted that the sending and receiving of unsolicited sexual images is now becoming “dangerously normalised”. Such normalisation gives me cause for concern, especially for girls. The study, which involved young people who were aged between 12 and 18, found that most girls had received an image of male genitalia, often from adult men who were strangers. The report said:

“Unfortunately, this form of image-based sexual harassment was often experienced on a regular ... basis.”

More than half the boys and girls who received unwanted sexual content online or had their image shared without their consent did nothing about it. Girls felt pressured into trading intimate images with boys who sent unsolicited pictures. Girls were mocked or bullied, and their photos were shared among their classmates.

We must know whether that is happening in Scottish schools and we must understand the connection with how girls and women are treated. Social media such as TikTok and Snapchat must be tackled, because they enable some grooming to take place.

I whole-heartedly agree with the motion. The situation must change, with the collective efforts of the parties and the individuals who have spoken eloquently, who believe with all their heart in doing that. For women and girls in our country, we must use the Parliament to make a fundamental change in the figures and stop women being violated and girls being abused.

17:51  

I congratulate my colleague Paul McLennan on securing the debate, and I am happy to support his continued efforts to raise awareness of the issue. It continues to blight our society, but too little focus and attention is given to changing the culture that allows it to continue unabated.

Two weeks ago, I spoke in the Government debate on the international day for the elimination of violence against women and girls. I emphasised the role that we men must play in changing the culture and, as I usually do, I shared that speech as widely as I could on social media. We all use such platforms to convey all sorts of messages, and the chamber is exactly the place to express messages.

When, in defence of the Scottish brand, I post about my dismay at photographs of boxes of eggs that display a union jack rather than a saltire, my social media accounts explode. I switch off the sound of notifications, because they do not stop for days on end. The outrage and sheer fury from the grossly offended are palpable and can set off a chain sideshow of explosions that continue in my notifications, sometimes for weeks.

However, when I post a speech about the savagery of male violence against women and girls, about sexual assault, rape and murder and about how we males must take a stand on behalf of women and girls, and when I ask how we can help to change things, what is the response? It is muted at best. Where is the anger? Where is the outrage? Where is the explosion of fury and support for women and girls and the condemnation of male violence that is perpetrated against them?

Sadly—and even more predictably—the outrage and fury did not materialise. Social media can be a powerful tool to raise awareness, start debate and engage with people whose opinions often differ from our own. As long as we can hold that space for such debates to happen with fairness and without the vitriol that I often see, we should continue to engage in all political matters online—and especially this one.

I know that the discussion is painful and uncomfortable for men. The fear is that, if a man sticks his head above the parapet, he might draw attention to himself, and someone, somewhere might remind him about a time when he might have been that guy, so it is better not to be reminded or risk the embarrassment. However, if we all admit—together and to ourselves—that at one point or another most males have done something that would now give us pause, and if we are forced to accept the difficult and uncomfortable memory of that version of ourselves, when we know that we most definitely were that guy, it will become easier to identify such behaviour in the next generation of boys and men and stop it at its root.

Part of that is the growing-up process in a patriarchal system, which not only does not condemn such behaviour but actively encourages it in all the ways that I spoke about two weeks ago. Most of us grow out of the behaviours and can chalk them up to experience—to growing up or whatever we want to call it. However, some men never grow up.

Even if we grow or learn, let us not forget to ask: at whose expense does that come? When men are doing all that growing up and learning, it is women whom they are trying the behaviours out on. The women are learning that they need to protect themselves and cannot know which of the boys will grow out of it and for whom it will escalate.

We need to address the real issue of ignoring male violence against women and girls, and treating it as something that others do, and therefore not our problem, unless it happens to one of our own, or to someone whom the media deems worthy of wall-to-wall coverage. As I said, the conversation should make us all at least a little bit uncomfortable.

If we are honest with ourselves, we all know exactly what I am talking about. We learn the boundaries, we know what flirting is, we know what a compliment is, and we know when the interaction is accepted and reciprocated—it is really obvious to us all. However, we also know what “no” means, and when our embarrassment leads to aggression or inappropriate continuation of advances, and we all know someone in our group as we grew up who might just have been capable of going that bit further than they should have done. Yet, we say nothing about it, because that is not what guys do.

As men, there is no doubt that the debate is difficult for us, but by avoiding it, we enable society to continue to mute the misogyny, sexism, objectification, violence, sexual assault, rape and murder of far too many women and girls every year. I believe that we can and must do more to change that. We can change that culture by example—we can cross the road and give women space, we can remain respectful in every setting, we can use the appropriate language, and we can take the eight seconds of discomfort in calling it out, which is made all the easier by the phrase, “Don’t be that guy”. We can teach our sons what is acceptable and unacceptable, and how not to cross the line. As important, we can teach our daughters not to accept that line being crossed.

I firmly believe that huge impacts can be made when small changes are made by the many, and I call on everyone to be more mindful, recognise the behaviours that we know cross the line, and create a different culture in which to bring up the next generation of boys to men.

17:56  

I congratulate Paul McLennan on securing this important debate, and I thank all those who supported him to enable it to happen. I also thank him for his excellent opening speech.

Gender-based violence is a stain on our society. Our streets should be safe—places for everyone—but we know that far too many women and girls are not safe. We only have to look back at the horrific crime that took place in London on 4 March this year. When walking home, Sarah Everard was kidnapped in the street and driven away to be raped, strangled and murdered. That the murder was perpetrated by a police officer is truly shocking. It was his duty to protect people and make the streets safe, but he abused his position to murder an innocent woman. We have a long way to go.

Women should feel safe in their homes, in the streets and when they are going about their daily business. I remember, just a few years ago, talking to a group of young women who came to see me to tell me about their experience of the issue. They told me terrible stories of the lack of respect and the casual harassment that they and their peers have to put up with daily. They were subject to leering, groping, intimidation and sleazy behaviour by some of the young men around them. When one person can treat another person in a derogatory way, or when they show so little respect that they make another person feel objectified or intimidated, we are all made smaller. Such casual objectification leads to escalating levels of disrespect. One small, aggressive statement, or one casual, unwanted touch is the first step on a path that can lead to something far worse and far more serious. We cannot disregard such issues. We have a long way to go.

Earlier this year, the UK Parliament passed the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The act will transform the support that is available to women across our society, and it will ensure that perpetrators feel the full force of the law. It is a step in the right direction.

Inadvertently, but entirely predictably, the steps taken to avoid Covid have exacerbated the issue that we are addressing. Across the world, Governments responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by initiating lockdowns to slow down the spread of the virus. One side effect of that policy was that it was even more difficult for vulnerable women to get away from an abusive partner. Between April and June 2020, there was a 65 per cent increase in calls to the national domestic abuse helpline compared with the number in the first three months of that year. Karen Ingala Smith, who runs the counting dead women project, has estimated that, during the first three weeks of the first lockdown, there were 16 domestic abuse killings of women and children in the UK. That was the highest figure for at least 11 years. We have a long way to go.

The escalation of violence towards women during the Covid-19 pandemic can also be seen overseas. The Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Vera Baird, said that China saw a doubling of domestic abuse during the height of the pandemic. With cases rising all over the world, the UN secretary general has described a

“horrifying global surge in domestic violence”.

As legislators, we must be constantly vigilant about how the law can be used and kept up to date to reduce violence against women and, as leaders, we must set an example. In the three debates that we have had, I am glad that I have seen so many men standing up in the Parliament and committing to work to eliminate violence against women and girls, and I thank Paul McLennan for the initiative that he announced in his speech at the start of the debate.

It is true that we have a long way to go, but I see hope. I can see that much more needs to be done. As a nation, as a country and as a human race, we must look into our hearts and establish the true cause of violence. The legal abolition of violence must be accompanied by the abolition of toxic and hateful environments and the acceptance of compassion and respect. We have a long way to go, but I have faith in the goodness of humanity to get to the place where all women and girls feel safe, respected and valued in our society.

18:01  

I thank Paul McLennan for securing this additional debate, which allows us once again to raise the important issue of gender-based violence in the week of international human rights day and to mark the 30th anniversary of the 16 days of activism. I share the sentiment that has been expressed in the debate, and I want to add to other members’ voices.

In 2021, violence against women is, sadly, not only still a major concern; it appears to be getting worse in Scotland and around the world. If anyone imagines that it has become a thing of the past, they are sorely mistaken.

As a new member who has been offered the opportunity to contribute to this debate, I see that Paul McLennan has become a champion of the issue and has called on men to take their responsibility in society seriously. I thank him, and in the last debate on this issue I thanked Jim Fairlie for raising the issue of the number of men in attendance in the chamber. I also thank them for the call to action in reminding all male MSPs to join the debate tonight and other debates.

In making this speech, I reflected on the fact that the motion marks 30 years of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Although that work is to be commended as absolutely essential, it should spur members on to realise that we have a responsibility to work hard, to make decisions, to focus on action, not rhetoric, and to ensure that we do not have to make the same remarks in years to come.

The motion quite rightly seeks to acknowledge and praise services that are devoted to supporting the elimination of violence against women. It is genuinely sad that the campaign for 16 days of activism is in its 30th year, but we know that the violence continues and that accountability is severely lacking.

When I made my first speech at the start of the 16 days of activism against violence against women, we knew that, in the UK this year, at least 126 women had been killed by a man, or a man was the principal suspect in their death. Since then, we know of other women who have been subjected to violence and women who have, sadly, lost their lives. How can we look at those numbers and think that there is not a serious problem in our society with the way in which men view and treat women? Whether we are talking about domestic violence, sexual harassment or, indeed, rampant misogyny, women continue to be the target of the terrible behaviours and aggression of far too many men. If we cannot understand how serious that is today and address its root cause, we do not deserve to be standing in this chamber.

Members across the chamber have raised many important issues in many debates in the Parliament. We need many vital changes in our society, from calling out language and misogyny to changes to the justice system. I have often wondered whether the statistics would be the same if so many men said that they had fallen victim.

My previous contribution focused on the establishment of institutions that feel at times that they are above the issue. I want to mention that again. Each woman who is the victim of violence must be treated equally and fairly by an establishment that understands, or at least seeks to begin to understand, what they have gone through. That begins with accepting that gender-based violence is a serious problem that we do not have under control. It requires more direct engagement with grass-roots organisations and health and recovery charities, and institutions opening their eyes and ears to what is going on.

We need to think about the sort of attitudes to which we are exposing young men, which encourage a culture of entitlement rather than one of respect. If we can approach the problem as a societal issue that is mixed in with the way in which men think that it is acceptable to behave, we can begin to tackle it. Until then, we will just have more talk and the issue will not be taken seriously enough. If we want to make a change, we have to do something about it.

I thank all the members who have attended this important debate.

18:05  

I thank Paul McLennan for securing this evening’s debate.

I swithered over whether to speak in the debate, but here I am. I am here because I can be. I have a voice, and I can use it. Not all women have that privilege. So, I have a responsibility to use my voice in the on-going fight for gender equality, even though it is often an exhausting, frustrating and demoralising fight.

We know that gender-based violence is a cause and a consequence of gender inequality. We also know that there is nothing inevitable about it. We still live in a deeply patriarchal world. However, I am not going to rehearse the arguments for equality here, or talk about the policies that we need to achieve it. I am not going to repeat the statistics on inequality or its impact on society, though they are harrowing, life changing and life ending. I am not even going to relay examples of the trauma that women have experienced. What I want to use my voice for this evening is to challenge each and every man in the chamber to up his game.

In Paul McLennan’s email about this evening’s debate, he specifically asked men MSPs to be here. On 25 November, we had a debate on violence against women and girls. On 30 November, we had a debate about justice and the 16 days of activism. Over the course of those two debates, eight men spoke—four in each debate—whereas 23 women spoke. In the justice debate, there were three interventions, all by men, two of which were in speeches by women.

Why do those numbers matter? Well, I think that it is telling that, in a Parliament in which just under 35 per cent of members are women, 75 per cent of speakers in those debates were women. On the face of it, that is not surprising—women face the consequences of gender inequality every day and have lived experience of it. Of course we can expect women to have lots to say about it, and it is right that we listen to women, but that only eight of 84 men thought that they should contribute to those important debates speaks volumes, too, because it is men who are the perpetrators of the vast majority of violence against women.

So, I challenge all the men in this Parliament to look critically at your behaviour, as you have a responsibility here: a responsibility to call out sexist behaviour and language whenever you encounter it, including in your own heads, 365 days a year; and a responsibility to consider your behaviour in this place of work, in social, private and intimate settings and—importantly—in this chamber. Even in this chamber, gender inequality is obvious, and it is damaging.

In the recent debates that I referred to, I have paid tribute to the organisations and individuals who work to support survivors, who raise awareness of gender inequality and who put their bodies on the line, every day, to do that work. This evening, I want to close by paying tribute to one of those organisations—the Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus—and all those who turned out to support it at last night’s event in the cold and dark on Dundee’s waterfront.

The keys to a safer future event saw people gather to write messages—mostly of hope—on tags and tie them with a key to the waterfront fencing. Many women, probably including many of us in this building, have carried keys or similar in their fists—in our fists—as defence against the fear and intimidation that we face on a daily and nightly basis. The event in Dundee was a bold statement of intent to reject the fear and intimidation that for so long have kept women afraid and prevented them from walking alone. I was not able to be there, but I want to close with the words that were written on one of those tags and one of those keys to a safer future:

“May my granddaughter wrap herself in the velvet darkness and lose her gaze in the stars without fearing the shadow at her shoulder.”

I am conscious of how many members still want to contribute, so I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 8.14.3, to extend the debate by up to half an hour. I call on Paul McLennan to move such a motion.

Motion moved,

That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—[Paul McLennan]

Motion agreed to.

18:10  

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, and I congratulate my colleague Paul McLennan on securing it. The theme this year is calling for awareness, action and accountability all year round, with a focus on the importance of all men taking action to prevent violence against women and girls. Jim Fairlie described that well. I, too, thank the organisations that work to tackle gender-based violence, including Zero Tolerance, Scottish Women’s Aid—including Wigtownshire Women’s Aid and Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Women’s Aid—Rape Crisis and White Ribbon Scotland. The recollections of women who have experienced violence and abuse are not easy to hear. As Audrey Nicoll stated, women who are survivors should be commended for their resilience.

There is no place for harassment or abuse in any form, whether in the home, schools or the workplace or in wider society. Violence against women and girls and against LGBT+ people and other groups is unacceptable. International awareness-raising activities such as this debate are crucial to raising the profile of gender-based violence and to tackling its causes.

The group UN Women has called violence against women during the Covid-19 pandemic the shadow pandemic. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, emerging data and reports have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, have intensified. The shadow pandemic needs a global collective effort to stop it. I ask members to please check out the shadow pandemic campaign on the UN Women website.

One of the best ways to tackle gender-based violence is by education. I welcome the Scottish Government’s determination to ensure that children and young people receive high-quality relationship, sexual health and parenthood education in schools. Campaigns such as Police Scotland’s “Don’t be that guy” campaign are crucial educational resources, as they encourage frank conversations with men about gender-based violence and negative stereotypes. The Scottish Government has a number of policies to deal with violence against women and girls and to advance gender equality here and abroad. Whether in Scotland or around the world, violence against women is a fundamental violation of human rights, and this is human rights day.

The Scottish Government is investing in front-line services and has introduced new legislation to tackle gender-based violence and discrimination. Scotland rightly aims to set an international example of good practice on gender equality and the eradication of gender-based violence, and in creating a world in which women and girls are safe and can achieve their goals.

In Scotland, we are seeing the implementation of “Equally Safe: Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.” The strategy rightly deals with issues of gender-based violence in Scotland, but it also has a commitment to preventing international discrimination against women.

Members might recall that last January I brought forward a debate on UN Security Council resolution 1325, on women, peace and security, which was unanimously passed by the Security Council more than 20 years ago. The resolution was the first of its kind, in that its aim was to specifically address the impact of war on women and the value of women as conflict resolvers.

At the heart of the equally safe strategy is the principle that all women and girls, regardless of background, race, religion, sexual orientation or age, should feel safe in their communities and should live without fear of violence or abuse.

On an international level, Scotland, working in partnership with the UN, has pledged practical and financial support for women and girls to achieve that goal and learn peace-building and conflict-resolution skills. The programme that is supported by the Scottish Government consists of talks, seminars and lessons and gives women and girls access to international experts and female role models in positions of power, so that they have the opportunity to learn from each other about the fundamentals of peacekeeping. Such actions should be commended; they contribute to the strengthening and empowerment of women and girls.

The steps that we in Scotland are taking—such as equally safe, equal representation on public boards, gender-balanced cabinets, and commitments to a wellbeing economy and the education of women and girls to tackle gender-based violence—are also welcome. It is important that the Scottish Government will introduce legislation to protect the anonymity of complainers of sexual crimes under Scots law. I also welcome that serious consideration will be given to the introduction of special courts and to allowing victims to prerecord their evidence.

I welcome this debate. I join the calls for men to call out gender-based violence, and I welcome Scotland’s outward-looking approach to tackling gender-based violence.

18:16  

I thank the members who are here for the valuable contributions to the debate that we have heard so far. It is an honour for me to follow my colleagues Pauline McNeill and Carol Mochan. I thank many members for their work in raising awareness of gender-based violence, but particularly Paul McLennan for bringing this vital debate to Parliament and for his encouragement of male MSPs to participate in it and to show a willingness to lead by example and take action.

What we have heard already about the murders of women and girls is shocking. Circumstances have been articulated particularly powerfully by colleagues. That day-to-day experience of violence and the fear of violence is harrowing, and it should shock us all.

I pay tribute to the work that is done by many organisations, such as Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland, as we have heard, to take action and to support women and girls year after year.

As we gather again to mark another 16 days of activism, we have once more seen instances of domestic violence and abuse go up. That pattern increases year on year. It should be abundantly clear to us all that much more needs to be done. Women and girls should not have to go about their day-to-day lives in fear of what might happen to them. They should not have to change their behaviour. Our mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins and friends should not have to think about their route home, where they run or where they go for a night out. We can do more, and we must do more. Men can do more, and must do more.

As we know, we are marking the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. That campaign is important because it helps to shine a spotlight on what can be done to begin to stop the horrific violence that happens in our communities. We are marking 30 years of the 16 days campaign, and I was three years old when it began. I have been reflecting on the fact that, during all my time growing up and going to school, I was not aware of the 16 days of activism—I was struck by Pauline McNeill’s contribution in that regard. I was not aware of the need for men and teenage boys at school to take account of their actions and to think about their attitudes. There was very little in the way of educating, involving or helping young men to think about their role in all of this. As Pauline McNeill articulated clearly, we must do more in our schools so that young men in particular reflect on their behaviours. The Police Scotland campaign is a start in relation to making young men in particular think about not being “that guy” in what they do and say.

I will highlight the work of White Ribbon Scotland. I had the great honour of getting to know that campaign well through my work at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, as I am sure that Paul McLennan also did. That campaign asks men to make a pledge to call out inappropriate behaviour when they hear it and see it, and to be clear that they will never walk on by when they see that behaviour and never condone violence against women or excuse it as just a joke or just par for the course.

The reality is, however, that that pledge is a starting point. It will never be an end in itself, but it is about all men in Scotland being able to take that pledge to make a contribution. It is about all men saying that, in their own sphere of influence—whether that be in their workplace, their home, the pub or wherever they socialise—they have a duty to call out those around them and to ensure that they take action so that we can begin to make clear that violence against women and girls is never acceptable, and that we all have a role in ensuring that we put an end to it.

18:21  

I thank Paul McLennan for highlighting activism against gender-based violence. To mark the start of 16 days of activism on 25 November, hundreds gathered at a march to reclaim the night in Dundee. I pay tribute to the Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in particular for leading that event, as well as to all the other groups involved in making the march and other events a success.

I thank them not only for their contribution to the march, but for the work that they do every day of the year. They include the Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership, Dundee International Women’s Centre, Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, the university societies and local secondary schools across Dundee. I also pay tribute to the V&A Dundee, Police Scotland, the Dundee city churches, the Hot Chocolate Trust, Dundee City Council, Leisure and Culture Dundee, Dundee Contemporary Arts and the University of Dundee for hosting workshops and lighting prominent buildings in our city to mark the occasion. I also pay tribute to all those across Dundee, elsewhere in Scotland and around the world who lit candles, torches and lights to make sure that the day was properly remembered and recognised.

Over the 16 days, there have been arts and crafts classes and musical events all over Dundee, and I know that that kind of activity has been replicated across Scotland and around the world. The buzz created by those events has been immense. However, it is crucial to remember why the 16-day event is required. While all that incredible work has been going on, I have been contacted by constituents who have reported women being spiked by injection in licensed premises in Dundee. There have been newspaper reports of further cases, and I know that Police Scotland is investigating several complaints. Members across the chamber will no doubt have received similar correspondence.

We know from work published by the United Nations that one in three women worldwide—an estimated 736 million—have experienced physical or sexual violence. We also know that the consequences of such violence are often devastating for those women. We know that 15 million adolescent girls—aged 15 to 19—worldwide have experienced forced sex. We know that an average of 137 women are killed by a member of their own family every day. We know that fewer than 40 per cent of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort. We know that violence against women disproportionately impacts on lower-income areas.

Those are just some of the horrifying numbers reported by the United Nations. They make for hugely uncomfortable reading, particularly for the men in the chamber and in society. Behind every one of those statistics is a woman. We must endeavour to remember that and to make a difference. Although not all men commit violence against women, it is incumbent on all of us, as many members have said, to call out such violence and help to end it.

I join Paul O’Kane and colleagues across the chamber in making the White Ribbon Scotland pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about men’s violence against women in all its forms.

Thank you, Mr FitzPatrick. I echo that pledge, too.

18:25  

I applaud all the work that is being done as part of the 16 days of action against gender-based violence, from the international level down to the work that is being done by local councils and organisations in my West Scotland region, which have chosen to establish their own 16 days initiatives. I applaud Paul McLennan for his important motion and for securing the debate.

It is a truly shocking state of affairs, however, that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the global 16 days campaign, and that that campaign is apparently needed now more than ever. The appalling and sickening murder of Sarah Everard in March was a reminder, as though one were needed, that women cannot feel safe on our streets.

As other members have done, I urge every man who is listening to really think about that and what it must feel like to feel vulnerable to physical violence and sexual attack from the moment that you leave a home or workplace and enter a street or any public space. For most men, we rarely, if ever, have to think about that, but for women, it is automatic—every day, all the time.

I have talked to women in my family and office who have spoken of the daily precautions that they take to avoid the threat of male violence: walking, even on a busy street in daylight, close to the road edge of pavements in order to avoid alleyways and doorways; carrying their keys between their fingers in case they need an improvised weapon without notice; and, of course, just not walking home, just not travelling on public transport or just not going out at all because of all the worries and logistics that it entails.

If men had to live like that, I suspect that the problem would have been dealt with a very long time ago. However, most of us do not; we rarely have to think or worry about it. Well, we should think about it. We should talk about it, as Jim Fairlie said, and we should have the political will to do something about it, as Pauline McNeill and Carol Mochan said. We should try to imagine what it feels like to live like that day in, day out. It is an outrage that anyone should have to live like that, never mind half the human population.

What is more, many women are not safe from violent men even in their own homes. According to the figures that Russell Findlay referenced, a woman is killed by a man in the UK every three days. Most such women die at the hands of domestic partners. Many suffer long-term abuse prior to their deaths at the hands of those men.

As Stephen Kerr said, the Covid pandemic has made matters worse for women for whom home is anything but a sanctuary. UN research has found that, since the pandemic began, women on a global scale feel significantly less safe and secure. That is because of male violence. Of course, not all men are violent predators, as Joe FitzPatrick said, but we must take collective responsibility for our collective behaviour as a sex.

As the motion states,

“all men must take action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls”.

We must appreciate that women and girls do not know who might be a threat. We must be sensitive about our behaviour and speech, and how it might be interpreted by others. I agree with Maggie Chapman and many other members that we must call out and challenge unacceptable male behaviour whenever we see it.

Clearly, there is a huge role for Government, the police and public policy. I agree with Paul McLennan that real change is needed urgently—certainly before we debate the subject next year. I commit to working with him and all other members on this important issue.

I also agree with Mr McLennan and others that the onus is on men—all men—to recognise the reality of life for our daughters, wives, partners, friends and mothers. Men need to face the fact that women live every day with the spectre of male violence. That should sicken us and call on us to act.

18:29  

As other colleagues have done, I congratulate Paul McLennan on securing the debate, and I thank all members who supported his motion. I pay tribute to all members who have contributed to this evening’s important discussion and to those who contributed to the debates that we had on 25 and 30 November.

It is with profound sadness that I begin by sending my thoughts and condolences to the family of Amber Gibson at this extremely difficult time. I understand that Police Scotland is treating Amber’s tragic death as murder. Tragically, shockingly and sickeningly, her name joins those of Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard, Nicole Smallman, Bibaa Henry and far too many other women and girls who have been senselessly and heinously killed in our country and around the world.

The Scottish Government agrees with what all colleagues have said today: if gender-based violence is a function of gender inequality, it is an abuse of male power and privilege. As Russell Findlay rightly stated and as others have emphasised, the common denominator is men. Gender-based violence takes the form of actions that result in physical and psychological harm or suffering to women and children, and it is an affront to their human dignity.

The Scottish Government is already doing a lot of work and taking a large number of actions to support victims of gender-based violence and to address the misogynistic attitudes that perpetuate such violence. For example, we established an independent working group, chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, to specifically consider misogyny in Scotland and to explore whether there should be a stand-alone offence to tackle misogynistic conduct. The working group has concluded its evidence gathering, and it has confirmed that the report on its findings and recommendations will be published in February 2022.

When it comes into effect, the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 will provide new powers for the police and courts to make emergency orders that are designed to protect people who are at risk of domestic abuse from someone they are living with. The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 has made a meaningful difference as a gold-standard piece of legislation in strengthening the law, and it gives the police greater opportunities and powers to tackle this insidious crime. Very early data shows an encouraging 84 per cent conviction rate.

We need to consider how we can do more in the criminal justice space as well as elsewhere in Government policy. On behalf of ministers, I accept Paul McLennan’s request for a meeting. If he follows up in correspondence, we will decide which ministers should be most engaged in that. I thank him for that constructive proposal.

I commend the minister for the excellent speeches that he has made on the subject and for the work that the Scottish Government is doing.

However, twice in the chamber I have raised the question of what has been happening in some schools in England, where girls have been subjected to unsolicited graphic images—and boys, too, to an extent. Paul O’Kane’s point was well made. There is an issue, but we do not really know what is going on in schools. Has the Scottish Government thought about addressing that by trying to find out what is actually going on? Perhaps the gender stereotyping of boys and the expectations on them are a factor in all this—we can perhaps make a direct connection there. In some ways, things might be worse for young people now than they were in my day. Does the minister agree that we need to explore the matter in Parliament?

I can give you the time back, minister.

Pauline McNeill raises important points, which I was going to come to later in my speech. In answer to her question, as part of Mr McLennan’s work, we need to consider the educational environment, to look purposefully at the analysis that has been done of the attitudes of young men growing up in Scotland and to consider what we can do to change those attitudes and make them more positive, where that is required.

So many good speeches and points have been made in the debate that I will not manage to address them all, but I will try to cover as many of them as possible in the time remaining.

I have spoken about legislation as an important tool in making a positive contribution to tackling gender-based violence. Also important is our support for organisations that work to support victims and survivors and to discourage gender-based violence. Over the past 18 months, the Scottish Government has invested an additional £10 million to allow rapid redesign of services and address backlogs, thereby supporting organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland.

As part of our £100 million, three-year commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, we have created a new delivering equally safe fund, and have recently confirmed allocations to 121 projects from 112 organisations that are working to provide key services and prevent gender-based violence.

In October, we opened a new victim-centred approach fund, worth at least £30 million over the next three years, to support victims of crime. In all policy areas, gender equality is a focus of the Government—that point was well made by Audrey Nicoll. In the new social security system, which is one of my responsibilities, there is, quite rightly, considerable emphasis on gender equality. I regularly meet organisations that are involved in such work, such as Engender.

In the time remaining, I will focus on the key points in Mr McLennan’s motion, which many other members have touched on. As a society, we need to do more across the board, but together and as individuals, men can do more to address the issue and change cultural and social attitudes. Some men—the perpetrators—are more to blame, but as Jim Fairlie emphasised, we have a collective responsibility across all ages to do more.

Gender-based violence is a manifestation of toxic masculinity, the commodification of women, porn culture and the existence of an immoral set of attitudes, including a sense of sexual entitlement, in the minds of too many men in our society and around the world. It is men who have created the imbalance in our society, so men have a duty to lead the change that is needed.

Men need to look in the mirror, and to do so critically, as Maggie Chapman said. To address the issues, it is vital that we bring about change that is societal, behavioural, cultural and systemic. We need that change in all settings, including workplaces, nightclubs, bars and in the streets. Police Scotland’s new “Don’t be that guy” campaign encapsulates how gender-based violence is not simply made up of the most severe crimes that come to mind when we talk about it. As Stephen Kerr said, there can be a process of escalation.

It is not enough to say that we are not that guy; we also have to change our collective behaviour, and to call out the behaviour of the men around us. I say to men that the onus is on us to modify our collective behaviour, and to do so in a way that is sensitive to the situation that women around us face. That is why I support campaigns such as White Ribbon and HeForShe, which promote the positive and active steps that men and boys can take to challenge violence against women and girls, and misogyny, when they see them. I encourage all men to make the commitment to do more.

My message to men and boys is that, collectively, we need to do more to tackle and prevent violence against women and girls. We need to be that guy who calls out his mates when he hears or sees sexism, misogyny, abuse or harassment. We need to be that guy who modifies his behaviour to make women feel safer, for example by crossing the road, as one member said earlier. We need to be that guy who plays a part in bringing about the change in culture that we need to see.

From today, there is a collective call for action from Government, society and individuals, as more must be done. Rightly, Paul McLennan asked us as MSPs to do more. As part of the work that will come out of the 16 days, I and other ministers will look at what more can be done across Government. As MSPs, when we speak to schools and sports clubs, we should think about how we can create greater awareness of the need for men to take responsibility.

The momentum that we have seen over the course of the 16 days of activism so far is important. However, after 10 December, we must not relent—we need to move forward and do more. We must remain united in our condemnation of violence against women and girls in all its forms, in Scotland and around the world, and recommit to doing all that we can to tackle it and end it as soon as possible.

Meeting closed at 18:39.