What is Gender Based Violence?

Combating GBV in Scotland Equally Safe is the national strategy to combat violence against women & girls. (https://www.gov.scot/policies/violence-against-women-and-girls/equally-safe-strategy/) 

The strategy focuses on the need for prevention of violence. It also sets out how we will develop a performance framework to determine whether we are realising our ambitions.

Equally Safe’s priorities are:

• Achieving greater gender equality
• Intervening early and effectively to prevent violence and maximising the safety and wellbeing of women, children and young people
• Tackling perpetrators

Equally Safe at Work https://www.equallysafeatwork.scot/ Email: info@closethegap.org.uk Tel: 0141 572 4730 Supporting employers to advance gender equality and prevent violence against women

Equally Safe at School https://www.equallysafeatschool.org.uk/ Equally Safe at School has been developed for secondary schools to help them take a whole school approach to preventing gender-based violence, with staff and students working together with a shared understanding and commitment to equality and safety for all, run by Rape Crisis Scotland 0141 331 4180 (Monday-Friday, 9.00am-4.00pm

Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland: https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/domestic-abuse/disclosure-scheme-for-domestic-abuse-scotland/ or call 101 The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) gives people the right to ask about the background of their partner. It also allows concerned relatives, colleagues and friends to ask about someone’s partner. They can ask if they have been abusive in the past – if so, the police will tell their new partner without naming the person who made the disclosure request.

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234 https://www.sdafmh.org.uk/en/ or helpline@sdafmh.org.uk.  Helpline offering support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues, and professionals who support them. Run by Scottish Women’s Aid https://womensaid.scot/ the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. Legal information, policy documents and research findings available on the website.

Rape Crisis Scotland (for women or men): https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/help-helpline/ Email: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk  Call: 08088 01 03 02 Text: 07537 410 027 Rape Crisis Scotland is Scotland’s leading organisation working to transform attitudes, improve responses and ultimately to end rape and sexual violence in all its forms. The national helpline, offering support and information for anyone affected by sexual violence, is open daily from 5pm – midnight, 365 days a year and supports people of all genders living in Scotland aged 13+

NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation Helpline: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/ If you’re worried a child is at risk of or has already had FGM you can call the free, anonymous dedicated FGM helpline 0800 028 3550 or email fgm.help@nspcc.org.uk.

The Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS): https://www.nhsinform.scot/sarcs is a dedicated NHS service which can offer healthcare and support in the days after an assault If you have been raped or sexually assaulted and do not want to tell the police or are unsure about telling them now – you can self-refer to a SARCS. This means you don’t need a GP or other healthcare professional to refer you to a SARCS – you can do this yourself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 148 88 88

TARA (Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance): https://www.tarascotland.org.uk/ 0141 276 7724 provides support to women over 18, who have been trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation.

SHAKTI: https://shaktiedinburgh.co.uk/  0131 475 2399 info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk  Help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse. May also provide help to those who are subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) rule in Scotland.

Encompass: https://www.encompassnetwork.info/ Scotland’s network supporting women involved in the sex industry

National Ugly Mugs Network: https://nationaluglymugs.org  Freephone (sex workers): 0800 464 7669 admin@nationaluglymugs.org  UK-wide charity working with sex workers – register for free to report incidents and receive warnings about dangerous individuals.

Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse: Trauma Counselling Line Scotland – http://www.health-in-mind.org.uk/services/counselling/tcls.html offers a confidential telephone counselling for adult survivors of childhood abuse in remote rural areas, with a disability or from a racially minoritised community. 08088020406 hello@health-in-mind.org.uk 

Stalking – https://followitapp.org.uk/ – FollowItApp is designed to help victim-survivors of stalking record what’s happening to them & is tailored to Scotland’s law.

Action against Stalking https://www.actionagainststalking.org/   Support@actionagainststalking.org  or Stalking Helpline: 0800 820 2427 Provide a throughcare support service for victims of stalking.

Military – Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA): https://www.ssafa.org.uk/ Tri-service welfare support including refuge accommodation for those fleeing domestic abuse.

Legal – Scottish Women’s Rights Centre: https://www.scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk/ – can offer free and confidential legal advice and advocacy support to victim-survivors of VAWG in Scotland.

Primary Prevention – Zero Tolerance: https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/  info@zerotolerance.org.uk, 07826 558 090 – charity working to prevent men’s violence against women by tackling its root cause: gender inequality.

Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland: https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/domestic-abuse/disclosure-scheme-for-domestic-abuse-scotland/ or call 101 The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) gives people the right to ask about the background of their partner. It also allows concerned relatives, colleagues and friends to ask about someone’s partner. They can ask if they have been abusive in the past – if so, the police will tell their new partner without naming the person who made the disclosure request.

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234 https://www.sdafmh.org.uk/en/ or helpline@sdafmh.org.uk.  Helpline offering support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues, and professionals who support them. Run by Scottish Women’s Aid https://womensaid.scot/ the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. Legal information, policy documents and research findings available on the website.

Rape Crisis Scotland (for women or men): https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/help-helpline/ Email: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk  Call: 08088 01 03 02 Text: 07537 410 027 Rape Crisis Scotland is Scotland’s leading organisation working to transform attitudes, improve responses and ultimately to end rape and sexual violence in all its forms. The national helpline, offering support and information for anyone affected by sexual violence, is open daily from 5pm – midnight, 365 days a year and supports people of all genders living in Scotland aged 13+

NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation Helpline: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/ If you’re worried a child is at risk of or has already had FGM you can call the free, anonymous dedicated FGM helpline 0800 028 3550 or email fgm.help@nspcc.org.uk.

The Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS): https://www.nhsinform.scot/sarcs is a dedicated NHS service which can offer healthcare and support in the days after an assault If you have been raped or sexually assaulted and do not want to tell the police or are unsure about telling them now – you can self-refer to a SARCS. This means you don’t need a GP or other healthcare professional to refer you to a SARCS – you can do this yourself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 148 88 88

TARA (Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance): https://www.tarascotland.org.uk/ 0141 276 7724 provides support to women over 18, who have been trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation.

SHAKTI: https://shaktiedinburgh.co.uk/  0131 475 2399 info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk  Help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse. May also provide help to those who are subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) rule in Scotland.

Encompass: https://www.encompassnetwork.info/ Scotland’s network supporting women involved in the sex industry

National Ugly Mugs Network: https://nationaluglymugs.org  Freephone (sex workers): 0800 464 7669 admin@nationaluglymugs.org  UK-wide charity working with sex workers – register for free to report incidents and receive warnings about dangerous individuals.

Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse: Trauma Counselling Line Scotland – http://www.health-in-mind.org.uk/services/counselling/tcls.html offers a confidential telephone counselling for adult survivors of childhood abuse in remote rural areas, with a disability or from a racially minoritised community. 08088020406 hello@health-in-mind.org.uk 

Stalking – https://followitapp.org.uk/ – FollowItApp is designed to help victim-survivors of stalking record what’s happening to them & is tailored to Scotland’s law.

Action against Stalking https://www.actionagainststalking.org/   Support@actionagainststalking.org  or Stalking Helpline: 0800 820 2427 Provide a throughcare support service for victims of stalking.

Military – Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA): https://www.ssafa.org.uk/ Tri-service welfare support including refuge accommodation for those fleeing domestic abuse.

Legal – Scottish Women’s Rights Centre: https://www.scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk/ – can offer free and confidential legal advice and advocacy support to victim-survivors of VAWG in Scotland.

Primary Prevention – Zero Tolerance: https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/  info@zerotolerance.org.uk, 07826 558 090 – charity working to prevent men’s violence against women by tackling its root cause: gender inequality.

The Moray Violence against Women and Girls Partnership (MVAWGP) has adopted the Scottish Government definition which identifies violence against women and girls (VAWG) as follows:

“Gender based violence is a function of gender inequality, and an abuse of male power and privilege. It takes the form of actions that result in physical, sexual and psychological harm or suffering to women and children, or affront to their human dignity, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of their liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. 

It is men who predominantly carry out such violence, and women who are predominantly the victims of such violence. By referring to violence as ‘gender based’ this definition highlights the need to understand violence within the context of women’s and girls’ subordinate status in society. Such violence cannot be understood, therefore, in isolation from the norms, social structure and gender roles within the community, which greatly influence women’s vulnerability to violence”

MVAWGP will develop an outcomes based approach to its work, in line with the national ‘Equally Safe’ Strategy. The most recent Delivery Plan was compiled after the Partnership’s May 30th 2022 Development Day and covers 2022-2025.

It is recognised that the abuse perpetrated against women & girls is much wider than physical violence so the word “violence” referred to in the business of the MVAWGP encompasses, but is not limited to:

• Physical, sexual and psychological abuse occurring in the family, within the general community or institutions, including: domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviours, rape & sexual assault, incest and child sexual abuse
• Sexual harassment and intimidation at work and in the public sphere
• Cyber violence against women
• Commercial sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography and trafficking
• Child, early and forced marriage 
• So-called ‘Honour-based’ crimes, including dowry-related violence & female genital mutilation

This does not deny that women use violence and coercive control against a male or female partner. It also does not deny that men use violence and control against other men, including male partners. It simply recognises that women are disproportionately disadvantaged because of the abuse they experience. 

The terms ‘women’ and ‘girls’ will be used in the context of business relating to the MVAWGP. It is acknowledged that a person’s internal sense of gender may differ from their sex as assigned at birth. The terms therefore refer not only to cisgender women and girls (whose gender identity reflects the sex assigned at birth) but also includes sexual/gender minorities – terms that refer to individuals whose sexual orientation is outside the heterosexual mainstream and whose gender identity/expression does not fit into the distinct categories of male or female, or cisgender. This encompasses transgender identities, as well as those exhibiting a non-conforming expression of gender. MVAWGP believe that trans-women are women. 

Working collaboratively with key partners across all sectors, the MVAWGP aims to eradicate violence against women in Moray. The Partnership seeks to make it a place where women and children can – with support when necessary – live free from the inequalities and harm associated with gender-based violence in accordance with: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1979; the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989; the Human Rights Act 1998; the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence 2011 (Istanbul Convention); and the Scottish Government Equally Safe Strategy 2014.

The MVAWGP aims to:

Ensure that gender inequality is integrated into the planning processes of partner agencies

• Raise public awareness of violence against women and ensure that its related harms are better understood
• Work with children and young people to challenge attitudes towards violence against women
• Influence public attitudes so that people no longer tolerate violence against women
• Encourage and support all partner agencies to take into account the views of women and children in families affected by violence against women when developing services
• Strive to achieve a policy of co-operation and co-ordination of services between agencies
• Identify gaps in service provision and make recommendations for the development of future services in Moray
• Ensure that sufficient training is provided to staff from all agencies so that they can recognise violence against women and give appropriate support to those affected
• Reduce the extent and impact of violence against women and on those affected in the family and wider community
• Develop mechanisms whereby perpetrators can be held accountable for their behaviour
• Develop and monitor the delivery of a Delivery Plan in line with the Scottish Government Equally Safe Strategy  

The Current Chairperson is: Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Gray

Caroline.Gray2@Scotland.police.uk 

The Partnership email is: vawgpartnership@moray.gov.uk