We believe that a world without domestic abuse is not just a dream, it is a possibility. Never doubt it, changing attitudes changes lives.
SWA held its annual conference in Edinburgh this week. The day was a great success, with keynote contributions from Professor Sylvia Walby, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, Professor Ailsa McKay and the writer and broadcaster Beatrix Campbell.
The full programme for the conference can be downloaded here.
Listen to audio files from the conference:
A conference report will be available soon.
On Thursday 12th March, we premiered our new DVD in a special event at the Glasgow Film Theatre. ‘Changing Lives - Women's Aid in Scotland' is the result of a fantastic collaboration between SWA, local Women's Aid groups and women, children and young people who have used Women's Aid services.
View SWA's response to the Government's proposals to modernise and strengthen the Children's Hearings system, including the establishment of a new national body to support and administer the system.
Update: The draft Children's Hearings Bill due to be presented to the Scottish Parliament in the Autumn has been postponed for further consultation. Please follow the links below for more information. Details about how to respond is contained in Newsletter 2.
Scottish Government News release
The Home Office funded Sojourner Project is now operational. For information on how to access funding from the project please click on the link below.
What's new
Unifem has today launched its 'Say NO-UNiTE to end violence against women' campaign.
Last year 5,066,549 people from around the world, civil society organizations and governments signed on to the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign, sending the urgent message to governments everywhere that ending violence against women and girls must be a top priority.
This year, UNIFEM is taking the initiative one step further, with the launch of a new global platform for action Say NO–UNiTE to End Violence against Women. The innovative web platform will stimulate, count and showcase actions on ending violence against women. Say NO–UNiTE will spotlight global efforts and demonstrate the groundswell of actions on the issue. The exciting international initiative is designed to contribute through outreach and advocacy to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s high-profile campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women.
Visit the website for further details.
Click here to see the consultation document.
SWA's 33rd annual report is now available for download from the publications section of our website.
The Scottish Government published Safer Lives: A Shared Approach to Tackling Violence Against Women in Scotland on 1st June. The document is available from the Scottish Government website, which can be accessed via this link.
You have the right to live without fear of violence and abuse.
If you, or someone you know, is being abused by their partner, find out how Women’s Aid can help.
If you're worried about what's happening to you or a parent you can use this site to find information for young people.
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
Arundhati Roy, Writer and Activist (2003)