16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) runs every year from 25 November, which is the International day of the Elimination on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), until 10 December, which is Human Rights Day.
Violence against women and girls is a human rights and a public health issue. In Scotland an estimated one in three women experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives and in the UK and a woman is killed every three days by a partner or ex-partner.
The 16 days’ campaign highlights prevalence and extent of GBV and promotes a call for action to speak up about violence against women and girls. This year’s theme ‘Imagine a Scotland without Gender-Based Violence’ encourages everyone to share their actions to prevent and eradicate all forms of VAWG.
NHS Lanarkshire have shown their support to this campaign by:
- issuing daily posts on social media highlighting VAWG
- attending and contributing to a local event in North Lanarkshire on women who have no recourse to public funds and who are experiencing domestic abuse
- lighting up University Hospital Wishaw, University Hospital Monklands and University Hospital Hairmyers in orange, on Human Rights Day (10 December) to put a spotlight on these issues.
Professor Jann Gardner, NHS Lanarkshire chief executive, said:
“Gender-based violence is a public health concern that we all must tackle to make the lives of victims and survivors safer.
“The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) have just released their refresh of the national strategy Equally Safe which shows how important the responses of mainstream services are to dealing with gender-based violence.
“We also look forward to the new delivery plan that will come out for the new financial year to drive new actions.
“NHS Lanarkshire remain committed to tacking this issue, using our gender-based violence service’s expertise to support the confidence and competence of our wider staff to identify, support and challenge all forms of gender-based violence.
“Our service offers a consultancy for any professional working on a case that involves gender-based violence and staff can self-refer to the service for information and support regarding their own circumstances.
“Training and further information is available on FirstPort. Let’s work together for a Lanarkshire free of gender-based violence.”
NHS Lanarkshire executive nurse director and one of the executive leads for gender-based violence Eddie Docherty talks about the current 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in the video below.
If you wish to confidentially discuss your own circumstances or as a manager, that of a member of staff please contact the Gender-Based Violence team on 01698 753686 or email GBVServices@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
