New £13million fund to help tackle gender-based violence

The Scottish Government has announced a new fund aimed at tackling gender-based violence.

The Delivering Equally Safe Fund, which will bring together a number of current funding streams, will benefit from a £1 million boost in this year's Scottish budget.

Organisations that support women and girls, and contribute to the delivery of the Equally Safe Strategy - a plan launched in 2016 to end violence against females - can apply for a portion of the fund to support their work.

The vision of the strategy is to ensure "all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse - and the attitudes that help to perpetuate it''.

Equalities minister Christina McKelvie said: "This £13 million fund will give front-line services an extra £1 million a year and shows how seriously we take erasing the terror and damage of gender-based violence from our society.

"Across greater legal protections, improving forensic medical services for victims of sexual assault and enhancing protections for those at risk of Female Genital Mutilation, we want to keep vulnerable women and girls safe from harm.

"Our record £30 million investment in equalities will help us create a Scotland where everyone is protected and violence, discrimination and gender-based inequality are consigned to history.''

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre director Caroline Burrell welcomed the Scottish Government's commitment to funding front-line services.

She said: "Going forward, we look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government to make sure that survivors are able to access support at the point of need.

"It is encouraging to see investment in both the front-line services and prevention work required to put an end to gender-based violence in Scotland, and ultimately achieve equality for women and girls.''

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