What is the SNP doing to tackle violence against women & girls?
The SNP is committed to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) through prevention, education, strengthened justice responses, and increased support for services.
Our core policy framework is the Equally Safe strategy, developed jointly with COSLA and partner organisations.
Key actions the SNP government has taken include:
1. Implementing the Equally Safe Strategy
Equally Safe: Scotland’s Strategy for Preventing and Eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls focuses on:
- Preventing violence before it occurs
- Building the capacity of support services
- Strengthening justice responses to victims and perpetrators
2. Funding Support Services
- £21.6 million invested in the Delivering Equally Safe Fund
- Supports 115 projects run by 107 organisations across all Scottish local authorities
- More than 67,000 adults, children and young people have been supported since launch
3. Education & Prevention Work
The SNP government emphasises the importance of early messaging in schools to shift societal attitudes.
Key programs include Equally Safe at School (ESAS) which have:
- Been delivered by Rape Crisis Scotland
- Recieved funding of £1.89 million over four years
- Seen 133 schools participating, as of January 2025
- Used a whole‑school approach to challenge gender-based violence and inequality
- Implemented the National Sexual Violence Prevention Programme
- Also been supported via the Delivering Equally Safe Fund
- Have reached 135,000+ young people over the past 10 years