Engender blog

3 ways to support 16 Days of Activism in Scotland

Engender is proud to work with our sisters in Scotland's violence against women sector, and today we're sharing three ways you can support their essential work during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Violence against women is endemic in Scotland, and to eradicate men's violence against women, we need to tackle women's inequality with men across all areas of life.

Every year, women's groups and organisations across Scotland come together to mark the 16 Days campaign, and we’ve highlighted three ways you can take action to support the ongoing work to eradicate violence against women and girls in Scotland.

1. Write to your MSPs to tell them survivors can’t wait

The support Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland offer can be truly lifesaving. When a survivor reaches out for that support, they need to receive it then. Not weeks or months later. But this is the reality facing too many survivors across Scotland.

This campaign from our sisters at Rape Criss Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to:
• Extend the emergency waiting list funding beyond March 2024 to save 28 jobs
• Commit to long-term sustainable funding for Rape Crisis Centres in Scotland

Write your MSP to ask them to support these calls and tell them survivors can’t wait using the template letter here. You can find out who your MSP is by using writetothem here.

2. Join the #ForThemAll Online Vigil on Friday 8th December

In the last 12 months, at least nine women in Scotland died from domestic abuse. Each woman’s death is a tragedy. Each woman’s death leaves behind trauma and grief. Each woman’s death was preventable.

For the second year, Scottish Women’s Aid will be holding their #ForThemAll online Vigil in memory of all the women and children who have died because of domestic abuse. The idea for the vigil came from Scottish Women’s Aid’s own Survivor Reference Group, which plays a key role in ongoing policy, practice and campaign work.

Take part in this night of remembrance and reflection from 7pm on Friday 8th December, by lighting a candle and sharing your reflections on social media using #ForThemAll.

3. Follow @16days_scotland and check out their resources

A Scotland without violence against women and girls is possible, and tackling VAWG is everyone’s business. By addressing gender inequality and prioritising primary prevention in all areas of public policy, we can have a Scotland where women and men have equal access to rights, resources, decision-making, and safety.

The National Violence Against Women Network have developed a toolkit of resources with information and graphics highlighting the work of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaigns across Scotland.

Access the toolkit and resources online here, and follow @16days_scotland to see and share key statistics and messages throughout the 16 Days of Activism.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that runs from 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, until 10th December, Human Rights Day. Throughout the 16 Days, we’ve been sharing information and updates on our social media from organisations across Scotland, so follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to see more.

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