FMQs: First Minister must take measures to end violence against women and girls
To tackle endemic violence against women and girls, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer has called for every young man in Scotland to be taught about the importance of consent and respect in relationships before they leave school.
The recent release of the Epstein Files has resulted in mass coverage of the ensuing political scandal, while the victims and survivors - primarily young women and girls - are at risk of being forgotten, erased or dismissed. In response, the Scottish Greens are now calling for a renewed focus on tackling men’s violence against women and girls.
Last week the Scottish Government published new guidance for teaching about consent and relationships in schools. This guidance, co-developed by Mr Greer, starts with a chapter on the importance of consent and respect in relationships, something lacking from the document previously provided to teachers.
In his first question, Ross said:
“Nothing the Prime Minister or others say now can change the fundamentals of the scandal rightly engulfing them.
“Peter Mandelson was lauded, given huge influence and ultimately one of the most important jobs in the British government despite it having been public knowledge for years that he had remained friends with Epstein after he was convicted for child sex offences.
“Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor clearly felt that he was above the law - and so far he’s been proven correct.
“The late Queen and current King put up millions of pounds to make his problems go away.
“But the ‘problems’ were real people - real women and girls who suffered their abuse.
“The victims and survivors are in danger of being forgotten, erased by the political fallout.
“That cannot be allowed to happen.
“Men's violence against women and girls isn’t just an elite problem. It is endemic at every level of our society.
“And every man has a role in solving it.
“So can I ask the First Minister what his message is to women and girls in Scotland who have survived and continue to endure men's violence?”
The First Minister responded agreeing with Ross that the decisions made by Keir Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson were wrong, and that he is committed to implementing measures to end gender-based violence and changing men’s behaviours.
In his second question, Ross focused on the changes that the Scottish Government can enforce to break the cycle of violence against women and girls.
Ross asked the First Minister:
“Tackling violence against women and girls means changing underlying attitudes.
“The uncomfortable truth is that far too many men - and boys - just do not see women and girls as equals, or worthy of respect and dignity.
“Here in Scotland far too many boys and young men leave school having never been taught about the importance of consent and respect in relationships.
“Over the last few years I’ve worked with the Education Secretary to update the guidance for relationships education.
“It's frankly unbelievable that the current guidance - which is only from 2014 - has no section on consent.
“The new guidance we developed was published last week though. And it starts with a chapter on the importance of consent.
“If we’re to break the generational cycle of misogyny and men's violence against women and girls, that guidance needs put into use in every school.
“Does the First Minister agree that every young person in Scotland - especially every young man - should be taught about the importance of consent and respect in relationships before they leave school?”