‘Put action into words’ say campaigners as Swinney vows to tackle misogynyViolence against women and girls was one of the key focuses of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.The Scottish Government dropped its standalone misogyny Bill in May 2025 due to a lack of parliamentary time and legal complexities (Dominic Lipinski/PA)PA ArchiveRachel Keenan4 minutes ago
The Scottish Government must “put words into action” women’s rights campaigners have said as the First Minister promises to tackle growing misogyny.
First Minister John Swinney set out his new Programme for Government on Tuesday with one of the key focuses to tackle violence against women and girls.
Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government would seek to make progress on a previously scrapped misogyny Bill and to launch a multi-year, public health campaign, to challenge misogynistic attitudes in boys and young men.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, he said: “We will end the postcode lottery of service provision to ensure that every woman and girl, regardless of where she lives, has access to safe and sustainable services.
John Swinney made the statement in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA)PA Wire
“That includes developing a new, multi-year fund for specialist, third-sector, organisations responding to what organisations need to sustain vital services and deliver critical preventative work, we will enhance protections for women by recognising pregnancy as an aggravating factor in domestic abuse cases, and provide support for those leaving abusive partners through our fund to leave.
“And we will invest in targeted interventions, including a multi-year public health campaign, to challenge and to change problematic, misogynistic attitudes in boys and young men, so they understand harmful influences and behaviour before it escalates and women and girls are harmed.”
The Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance (SRCA) welcomed the statement from Mr Swinney, however, it warned it is now time “to put words into action” and called for further funding to the organisation.
Speaking on behalf of the alliance, Liz Curran said: “We welcome the First Minister’s personal assurances that Scotland will tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls, and do so with a multi-year, public health campaign. However, it is now time to put words into action.
“We are particularly encouraged by the commitment to end the postcode lottery in service provision, so that every woman and girl, wherever she lives, can access safe, sustainable and specialist support.
“Delivering this will require long-term commitment and sustainable funding. We stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that anyone who is raped or sexually assaulted can get high-quality, specialist support as soon as they need it.
“SRCA centres have been clear with the Government on the level of funding that is required, and we await confirmation of this in the forthcoming Scottish Budget to make there promises a reality as soon as possible.”
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The Scottish Government dropped its standalone misogyny Bill in May 2025 due to a lack of parliamentary time and legal complexities.
Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government will now seek to bring forward a misogyny Bill which he believes will seek to make early progress on the issue of violence against women and girls.
Ms Curran continued: “We await further detail on the Government’s proposed Misogyny Bill, including how it will help prevent male violence against women and girls and address the harmful attitudes and behaviours that cause lasting harm and trauma to tens of thousands of women and girls every year.”
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