Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has pledged to roll out misogyny education in every school as part of a broader strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, which Police Scotland records at more than 200 crimes per day. The plan includes classroom programmes, public-awareness campaigns, and talks with the UK government on tougher online regulation. The government also plans a GPS bail-monitoring pilot in Tayside and Fife and is exploring emergency funding for victim-support organisations.
Swinney Pledges Misogyny Education In Every Scottish School As Part Of National Push
John Swinney wants to roll out education and awareness programmes across the country [Getty Images]
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has pledged to introduce focused education on misogyny in every school across the country, saying violence against women and girls is of "such seismic significance" that decisive action is required.
Education As Prevention
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Mornings programme, Swinney described a package of preventative interventions developed over the summer, including classroom programmes and awareness campaigns designed to shift cultural attitudes. He said the education system must be a primary arena for challenging misogynistic behaviour among boys and for equipping girls with "the strength and resilience to say, that's not acceptable."
The Scottish government previously launched an advertising campaign urging boys not to share misogynistic content online [Scottish government]
“Our education system is going to be a primary focus for that, to make sure that boys are educated and supported to understand the implications of what some might think of as casual behaviour, but it has consequences,” Swinney said.
National Consistency And Online Regulation
Swinney noted that, without a mandatory national approach, some schools have done more than others. He said he will work to align Scottish government policy with local authorities so that all schools teach the material. He also said he is in talks with the UK government about tougher online regulation to curb misogynistic and harmful content.
Public Campaigns And Consent Education
Earlier this year the Scottish government ran adverts urging boys and young men not to share sexist or misogynistic material online, warning that such content is "never harmless." There remains debate over the appropriate age to introduce lessons on consent and violence awareness; Swinney said he faced criticism five years ago for introducing consent materials as education secretary, but now believes early education is necessary and unavoidable.
Stacy Hunter's death has prompted calls for stronger protection for women [BBC]
Support For Victims And Bail Monitoring
Alongside education measures, Swinney said the government is considering emergency funding for organisations supporting victims of domestic violence, many of which face long waiting lists. He was also questioned about bail practice after the murder of Stacy Hunter, who was killed by her estranged husband while he was on bail. Her family has campaigned for GPS monitoring for domestic abuse suspects assessed as posing a significant risk.
Earlier this month Swinney announced plans to lodge regulations to enable a pilot of GPS monitoring for people on bail, including those suspected of domestic abuse. The pilot will begin in Tayside and Fife; if successful, the government hopes to expand it quickly. Sean Hunter, Stacy's brother, welcomed the pilot but warned GPS tagging should not become a rationale for releasing dangerous individuals.
What The Government Says
The government frames the combined measures—school programmes, public-awareness campaigns, tougher online regulation, emergency support funding and a GPS bail-monitoring pilot—as part of a broader effort to reduce violence against women and girls and to change the cultural attitudes that enable it. Police Scotland statistics cited by ministers indicate more than 200 recorded crimes of violence against women and girls on average each day.
The First Minister said Scotland's response will aim to prevent harm by changing behaviour early, strengthen victim support, and improve protective measures where risk is identified.
Help us improve.
