Scotland's First Minister John Swinney is scheduled to present his programme for government today, where he has pledged to prioritise ending violence against women and girls. This commitment will be central to his government's ambitions for the coming year and beyond.
The pledge comes amidst a reported increase in misogyny and violence against women globally. In Scotland, Police Scotland recorded a 10% rise in sexual crimes, including rape and attempted rape, last year, reaching their highest level since 1971. Domestic abuse crimes are also on the rise.
Equalities campaigner Talat Yaqoob highlighted that technological advancements have enabled new forms of violence, such as deepfakes, 'revenge porn', and online coercion through GPS tracking. Yaqoob also noted that economic recessions and poverty can lead to a rise in anger, with women often becoming victims.
Previous Scottish legislation, such as the 2018 Act criminalising coercive control, was internationally recognised. However, campaigners suggest that institutional changes, including police and prosecutor training, have not fully materialised, with only 4% of domestic abuse crimes prosecuted under the new legislation last year.