Today (Friday 29th November 2024), COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison, has made a speech at the November COSLA meeting of Council Leaders - which fell during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign - reaffirming COSLA and Local Government's commitment to ending gender-based violence.
COSLA has actively participated in the U.N.’s 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign for several years. This campaign runs annually from November 25th to December 10th, highlighting gender-based violence as a fundamental assault on the human rights of women and girls.
COSLA’s engagement has included events, workshops, social media promotions, signing White Ribbon pledges, and highlighting impactful activities led by Scotland’s Local Authorities with their expert partners.
Opening COSLA's November Council Leaders' meeting today, COSLA's President, Councillor Shona Morrison, highlighted Local Government’s ongoing commitment to prevent and tackle violence against women and girls in Scotland.
Councillor Morrison said:
"This statement is being made on Day 5 of this year’s 16 Days campaign. It is one of many actions that groups, organisations, services, strategic partnerships, and communities are making across Scotland, the UK, and internationally up until the 10th of December. Our work continues beyond this date, but as the Leaders of Scotland’s Councils, today our particular attention signals our collective support for the Equally Safe Strategy, co-owned with the Scottish Government, and our respect for all those working towards a Scotland free from violence against women and girls.
"In the next stage of our own action, we have committed to focusing on preventing violence by addressing gender inequality through policy design, decision-making, and scrutiny. Our initial focus will be on advancing women’s access to resources and power, a prerequisite for equality of opportunity and safety.
"To achieve this, we must recognise that women experience life differently from men, necessitating tailored solutions. Policies must address these differences to provide effective support and protection, essential for achieving gender equity in both public and private spaces.
"Our framework for progress draws on activity already begun and will be further developed with COSLA’s Members over the next months and years. It includes:
- Creating Opportunities: For COSLA’s Members, Elected Members, Boards, and supporting officers to explore the benefits of gendered approaches to policy design and scrutiny.
- Exploring Gender in Resources: Recognising the distinct needs of women and children helps inform us how resources can be distributed more equitably, closing gaps in healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
- Empowerment and Representation: Policies focusing on women’s needs promote greater representation and participation in decision-making, leading to inclusive governance.
- Safety and Protection: Gendered policies provide targeted measures to protect women from violence and harassment, creating safer environments at home, at work and in public space.
- Tackling Poverty: Addressing poverty among women and children is crucial for breaking the cycle of disadvantage. Women’s poverty and financial insecurity can be both part of abuse and an outcome of such abuse. Understanding this in Local Government decision-making will better tackle women’s and children’s poverty, significantly improve lives and support community wellbeing.
"Today’s meeting marks the beginning of COSLA’s work informed by this framework. We will reflect on our progress during next year’s 16 Days campaign and report on it in the Summer of 2026, in line with our commitments made in the Equally Safe Delivery Plan."
Further information
The Improvement Service have put together a suite of resources and a calendar of events (including events COSLA are contributing to, alongside a number of other organisations).