Highland partnership says we all have a role to play in preventing violence against women

The Highland Violence Against Women Partnership has said we all have a responsibility to promote equality and prevent violence against women and girls.

Today (25 November) is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the annual international campaign for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Highland Council’s Executive Chief Officer for Health and Social Care, Lesley Weber, said: “Highland Council is fully supportive of this campaign and indeed all the work being done locally to raise awareness and tackle issues of gender-based violence”.

Jacquelyn Jennett, Chair of the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership, said “Everyone can do something to promote equality and prevent violence against women and girls. Violence and abuse can have a devastating impact on the lives of women and children in local communities. It is estimated that more than 1 in 3 women in Scotland have experienced physical, sexual violence and/or coercive controlling behaviour , and 1 in 5 children have experienced domestic abuse”.

As part of the 16 days of action members of the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership are taking forward a number of activities across Highland. These include the launch of a report called Participating in Equally Safe in the Highlands and Islands, social media campaigns by members, training of DWP staff, Inverness Women’s Aid are working with pupils at Nairn Academy to develop a leaflet, Caithness and Sutherland Women’s Aid are organising workshops, fundraising by Lochaber Women’s Aid, the Scottish Prison Service with Rape and Sexual Abuse Services Highland (RASASH) and Inverness Women’s Aid delivering sessions to inmates, and RASASH are holding a Reclaim the Night march.

The partnership includes statutory agencies and 3rd sector partners who work together to raise awareness of the harm caused by gender inequality and violence against women and girls, and to improve outcomes for women and children affected by violence and abuse.

You can find details of some of the activities in the poster