COSLA President, Councillor Alison Evison, marked the final day of this year's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence by talking about the importance of collective leadership in tackling violence against women and girls.

Speaking to a broad range of leaders and strategic decision makers from across Scotland’s spheres of Government, Local Authorities and public sector organisations, Councillor Evison reminded everyone that the root causes of women’s inequality must be tackled in order to bring progress in preventing and eradicating violence against women.

She said: "Violence against women and girls is an absolute violation of human rights so it is important that on International Human Rights Day we come together to challenge it. We know that there is no one solution and that every part of our societal infrastructure must do what is has the power to do, individually and collectively. We recognise that this is a responsibility that is beholden to us all to grasp.

"Collective action is taken daily by Local Government to tackle violence against women and girls.  Local Authority services work with many others from across different sectors to prevent the behaviours and attitudes that cause it, to support survivors and to hold perpetrators to account. This collaborative approach tackles gender inequality and Gender-Based violence across all its forms, and is coordinated by multi agency Violence Against Women Partnerships – the engine room behind local implementation of Equally Safe.”