Question reference: S5W-35259
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the WAVE Trust's campaign to reduce the number of children and young people who have been subjected to abuse, or who have witnessed domestic violence, by 70% by 2030 and, if so, (a) how many of the campaign’s policies it will introduce and (b) whether it will take any additional steps in order to achieve the campaign's objectives.
Answer
The Scottish Government agrees with the WAVE Trust that it is imperative to reduce the number of children and young people who have been subjected to abuse, or who have witnessed domestic violence. The safety and wellbeing of Scotland’s children is an utmost priority for the Scottish Government, with activity currently taking place through Government-supported work streams across Health, Justice, Equalities, Education and Policing.
The Scottish Government is already fully committed to a wide range of action to reduce the number of children and young people who have been subjected to abuse, or who have witnessed domestic violence, including through Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Strategy, Scotland’s Cyber Resilience Learning and Skills Action Plan, Scotland’s refreshed Digital Strategy, the National Action Plan on Internet Safety for Children and Young People, the Curriculum for Excellence, Equally Safe, the Child Protection Improvement Programme, the revision of the National Child Protection Guidance and the Joint Strategy for Policing.
Action to tackle child abuse is strengthened further by the incorporation into Scots Law of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and through Scotland’s GIRFEC approach. We continue our funding commitments to strengthen early intervention and prevention to better protect children and young people in Scotland from abuse and neglect.