Key messages from 16 Days of Action 2025
From Tuesday 25 November to Wednesday 10 December, we took part in 16 Days of Action, an online campaign to encourage meaningful conversations, share learning, signpost to support, and raise awareness of gender-based violence in all its forms.
Although our campaign for 2025 is over, we’re committed to speaking up for women and girls at every opportunity.
See below for a complete list of key messages from this year’s campaign and join us in tackling violence against women and girls in East Ayrshire, now and into the future.
We invited more people to sign The White Ribbon pledge
As part of our 16 Days 2025 campaign we visited various locations in East Ayrshire to promote the message of White Ribbon Scotland.
Our first stop was at Kilmarnock Train Station, where we encouraged commuters to make their own White Ribbon pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about gender-based violence.
We also visited supermarkets in Kilmarnock and Cumnock, spreading awareness of the charity and its message and inviting even more passers by to make their pledge.
Find out more about White Ribbon Scotland and make your own pledge at www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk.
Women and children who experience gender-based violence are at high risk of poverty
89% of women experience financial abuse (an aspect of coercive control) when experiencing domestic abuse.
This means that women and children experiencing gender-based violence are at high risk of poverty and can face barriers to accessing support.
We need to take a children’s rights approach to tackling gender-based violence and ensure we are listening to the voices of children and young people.
Read more in the Improvement Service’s briefing note for elected members, ‘Children, young people and domestic abuse: impact, support and recovery’.
Gender inequality harms men and boys too
Violence against women and girls and gender inequality harms everyone in society, including men and boys.
Gender norms place expectations on men and boys to meet unhealthy and impossible standards of masculinity, and men face additional risks as a result.
Acknowledging the link between gender inequality and gender-based violence can help to engage men to be active allies in challenging the attitudes which contribute to the prevalence of violence and abuse.
Women are still underrepresented in the workplace
Despite women making up 51% of Scotland’s population, they are still underrepresented in management positions in local and national government.
According to feminist policy and advocacy organisation, Engender Scotland, men are overrepresented in all of Scotland’s democratic bodies, with multiple barriers to women accessing politics (particularly women of colour, disabled women and LGBTI+ women).
Gender inequality is the root cause of violence against women and girls, and we must tackle this.
Gender-based cybercrime is on the rise
Cybercrime accounted for an estimated 30% of sexual crimes in Scotland during 2023-2024, and more than 1 in 6 women has experienced online violence.
Sometimes animals are harmed in coercive control
According to the PDSA, it’s estimated that 51% of UK households include animals, and of those households experiencing domestic violence, animals are often also abused by perpetrators – usually as a way to coerce, control and hold power over the victim.
This is commonly seen after a separation between partners, or if the abuser is trying to stop the victim from leaving the relationship.
Minority ethnic women and girls face barriers to support
Women from minority ethnic communities can feel judged, shamed and discriminated against due to staff in mainstream services lacking an understanding of their experiences and cultural practices.
Lack of trauma-informed language, translation and interpretation services is a significant barrier for minority ethnic women and girls accessing advice and support for gender-based violence.
Where to find support…
Click on the links below if you or someone you know is in need of support, information or advice.
Information, support and refuge for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.
Offers free and confidential support to anyone, of any ethnicity, aged 13 and over who has experienced sexual violence (women, girls, boys and those who identify as transgender or non-binary).
Provides tailored, professional support for people affected by sexual trauma, aged 13 years and above, in East and North Ayrshire.
Offers free, confidential and non-judgemental practical and emotional support to women who sell sex.
