Scottish government publishes report on dealing with gender-based violence

Jenny Gilruth

Developed by a working group co-chaired by the Scottish government, Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance, it challenges what it claims are “societal views which normalise gender-based violence”.

It aims to support schools by:

• providing guidance to support schools’ responses to GBV experienced, or carried out by, children and young people or other members of the school community, including staff
• outlining the approach schools should take to recording GBV behaviours and signposting to further support and learning
• GBV refers to behaviours ranging from name calling, intimidation and physical violence to sexual harassment and emotional abuse, which can affect anyone, but is more commonly experienced by women and girls.

First Minister Humza Yousaf and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth launched the framework on a visit to Moffat Academy, where they heard about a pupil-led approach to promoting gender equality.

Mr Yousaf said: “We want schools to create cultures in which all members of the school community know that gender-based violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Prevention and early intervention are key to the approach to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence, particularly gender inequality.

“This framework forms part of our broader action to address the issue of gender equality within education as part of the implementation of our Equally Safe Strategy and broader commitment to eradicate gender-based violence in every part of our society.

“All children and young people have a right to a learning environment where they are protected, cared for, and in which their rights and needs are respected. It is vital that schools are at the part of our drive to support the end of gender-based violence and misogyny once and for all – it is up to us to show the leadership necessary to empower them to do so.”

Ms Gilruth said: “We’ve taken great strides in recent years to tackle gender-based violence across society and it’s concerning that misogynistic views and language have appeared as emerging issue in recent research into behaviour in schools. There is no place for harassment or abuse in any form in our schools and this framework aims to provide support for everyone in a school community to recognise it as it occurs and be equipped to respond appropriately.

“It is not only for schools to respond to incidents of gender-based violence amongst our young people. Prevention and early intervention are key elements of our approach – meaning that we want to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence, particularly gender inequality, and the framework published today supports this endeavour.”