More than 100 people found out more about a range of issues at a fascinating event held during 16 Days of Action Against Gender Based Violence.
The Safer and Stronger Together conference was organised by Empowered - a multi-agency group carrying out important work in East Dunbartonshire related to gender based violence.
The event was held at Kilmardinny House in Bearsden on Tuesday 5 December and covered a number of subjects:
- Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs - founder and director of Surviving Economic Abuse - spoke about economic abuse and coercive control
- Daljeet Dagon - Programme Manager for Barnardo’s Scotland - spoke on child sexual exploitation
- Police Scotland discussed sharing intimate images without consent.
There was also a powerful live performance by Breeze Productions about coercive control, as well as opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback.
Attendees included partner organisations, Councillors, senior school pupils and members of the public.
Councillor Gordan Low, Chair of the Community Planning Partnership and Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, said, "The conference helped to shine a light on a range of important issues, with a varied programme of speakers and presentations.
"Well done to all of the organisers - it was an effective and thought-provoking way of raising awareness of 16 Days with people of all ages and from all backgrounds. Many thanks to everyone who attended.
"Empowered - which is strongly supported by the Council - carries out a range of work and projects to tackle gender based violence in conjunction with a number of partners.
"We remain committed as a Council, and the largest employer in East Dunbartonshire, to tackling inequality and abuse in all its forms."
- 16 Days of Action Against Gender Violence is an international campaign which takes place from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
- Empowered brings together a number of key agencies including the Council, Addaction Families+, Ceartas Advocacy, Carers Link, Citizens Advice Bureau, CEDAR Project, ED Women's Aid, ED Association for Mental Health, ED Youth Council, ED Health and Social Care Partnership, Low Moss Prison, Police Scotland, Rape Crisis Glasgow, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs and Victim Support ED.
- Pictured (from left): Cllr Gordan Low (Leader of the Council), performer Naomi Breeze, Evonne Bauer (Strategic Lead - Place and Community Planning), Louise Bickerton (Policy Advisor), PC Alex Moore (Chair of Empowered) and Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs
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