This conference will examine what Scotland needs to do next to make Equally Safe real in practice. It will consider prevention in schools and communities, online misogyny, domestic abuse, sexual violence and justice responses. It will also address the role of housing and financial support, trauma-informed recovery, workplace responsibilities and public-body accountability. YouthLink Scotland members can use code YLS10 for a 10% discount.
Violence against women and girls remains one of Scotland’s most serious public policy and service delivery challenges. It affects justice, policing, health, housing, education, employers, councils, social work, children’s services, digital safety and the specialist support services women and children rely on.
This conference will examine what Scotland needs to do next to make Equally Safe real in practice. It will consider prevention in schools and communities, online misogyny, domestic abuse, sexual violence and justice responses. It will also address the role of housing and financial support, trauma-informed recovery, workplace responsibilities and public-body accountability.
The Scottish Government and COSLA’s Equally Safe strategy was refreshed in 2023. It set out a national ambition to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, strengthen support services, and improve justice responses for victims and perpetrators. The current delivery plan covered summer 2024 to spring 2026. A March 2026 progress report highlighted work including the £1.5 million Fund to Leave, opened for referrals in February 2026 to help women and children meet essential costs when leaving an abusive partner.
The issue is also politically live after the 2026 election. During the previous Parliament, ministers proposed adding sex to Scotland’s hate crime framework, while campaigners and political parties continued to debate whether Scotland should have a specific misogyny offence.
Across the morning, sessions will look at the points where policy often succeeds or fails. These include early prevention, safe routes out of abuse, survivor support, digital harms, justice reform, workplace responsibilities and whether public bodies can show that strategies are changing outcomes for women and girls.
Bringing together government, councils, police, health, education, specialist support organisations, legal experts, academics, unions and workplace voices, the conference will help delegates understand how prevention, protection, justice and recovery can be strengthened across Scotland.
This online conference will focus on three themes: