Chamberlain to set out plans to tackle violence against women and girls

At their autumn party conference in Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats are expected to back a motion put forward by deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain which sets out a range of measures to tackle violence against women and girls, including a call for the Scottish Government to implement key domestic abuse protections four years after they became the law.

In 2021, the Scottish Parliament voted for new legislation to tackle domestic abuse.

However, Part 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 is not yet in force and the Scottish Government were unable to confirm when they will come into effect.

It contains provision for two new legal measures, designed to give emergency protection to domestic abuse victims: domestic abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders.

Both the notice and the order could be issued immediately following a domestic abuse incident. The notice would enable the police to require a perpetrator to leave a victim’s home, while the order would give a sheriff the power to impose certain requirements or prohibitions against a perpetrator.

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre has said that the “delay in implementation of these remedies has a significant impact on the availability of protection for victims/ survivors.” They explain that this delay means that both victims and their children “remain at serious risk of further abuse and harm”.

The motion also calls for

• ‘Sex’ to be swiftly added to the list of protected characteristics in the Hate Crime and Public Order Act 2021, and a review in the next parliament, with a view to bringing in separate legislation as originally recommended by Baroness Kennedy if required.
• Consistent guidance for schools and local authorities on how to tackle violence against female pupils in schools.
• Measures to prevent further violence against women and girls to be included as part of efforts to rehabilitate prisoners.
• Establishing a single point of contact within a local authority that victims of domestic abuse can speak to in order explain their circumstances, ensuring victims only have to tell their story once.
• All housing and frontline staff to be trained to detect and respond appropriately to domestic abuse and survivors of domestic abuse.
• A presumption that the perpetrator of domestic abuse will be required to leave the shared home, allowing survivors greater choice and agency.

Wendy Chamberlain said:

“Every day in Scotland, women and girls are suffering violence at the hands of men.

“If we are serious about tackling misogyny and protecting women and girls, we need change in a number of different policy areas, from health to education to justice.

“Four years since the Domestic Abuse Act passed, SNP ministers have yet to implement crucial protections contained within it. The longer these delays continue, the continuing risk to those experiencing domestic abuse.

“Equally, by ditching the Misogyny Bill earlier this year, the SNP threw away a real opportunity to take a dedicated approach to tackling violence against women and girls.

"Scotland deserves better. From removing domestic abusers from the family home to properly protecting female pupils in schools, our proposals will send a clear message that we are committed to stamping out misogyny and gender-based violence for good.”