Fifty years ago, there were no refuges, no helplines, no womenโs workers, and no childrenโs programs.
It was legal for a man to rape his wife. Women werenโt allowed mortgages or bank loans without a male co-signer, and women were forced out of public sector jobs if they married. Scotlandโs leaders were overwhelmingly male and pale, and domestic abuse was firmly in the โitโs just a domesticโ box.
For nearly 50 years, weโve worked with others to influence and campaign for the rights and the safety of women and children affected by domestic abuse in Scotland, and we have made progress.
๐ Scotlandโs Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline now supports thousands of people across Scotland.
๐ Coercive control is now a criminal offence under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
๐ Women, children and young people across Scotland have been supported by programmes on justice, housing, debt, child contact, and digital abuse.
๐ An increasing number of professionals are now trained in the dynamics of domestic abuse and trauma-informed response.
๐ Local Womenโs Aid groups remain the backbone of the movement, supporting women, children and young people to find safety, regain control, and rebuild their lives - even as demand increases and funding decreases.
The work is not done. Our new Strategic Plan sets our sights on a Scotland with no domestic abuse and is launching today.
Watch this space. ๐๐๐
#SWAStrategy2530
#NoDomesticAbuse #EndDomesticAbuse #ScotlandAgainstAbuse #TogetherForChange #SafetyForAll #JusticeForWomenAndChildren #FreedomFromFear #ChangeIsPossible #TheWorkIsNotDone