16 Days of Activism is a global campaign fighting against gender-based violence.

The global campaign begins on 25 November, which also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

Each year the campaign is supported by the Council and Empowered, the multi-agency partnership of services in East Dunbartonshire which work to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

A UN report estimates that 1 in 3 women aged 15 or older around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. However, these figures would be even higher if they included the full types of violence that affect women and girls such as harassment and online abuse.

The Council will be lighting up the the Community Hubs in Kirkintilloch and Bishopbriggs, as well as Milngavie Town Hall, in orange on 25 November to raise awareness of the 16 Days campaign and to encourage residents to learn more about the efforts being made to eliminate gender based violence.

There will also be a variety of events aimed at employees of the Council, local practitioners and the wider public, details of these events can be found below

Did You Know?

  • Around 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic abuse at some time in her life with similar figures approximated for rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse 
  • Research in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia suggests that approximately 1 in 4 LGBT people will experience domestic abuse
  • Central Scotland Police recorded 3,705 incidents of domestic abuse 
  • Around a third of teenage girls in a relationship suffer an unwanted sexual act
  • The Forced Marriage Unit deals with approximately 300 to 400 cases of forced marriage a year across the UK
  • Research indicates that 77% of stalking victims don’t report the situation until over 100 incidents have taken place.
  • Women who are experiencing violence are 15 times more likely to use alcohol and 9 times more likely to use drugs than women generally

Events

Empowering Deaf Woman to report Domestic Abuse

Kirkintilloch Town Hall 
Union Street, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, G66 1DH
Monday 24 November, 11:30am

Join East Dunbartonshire’s Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership for our 16 Days of Activism Event which will explore:
Deaf women’s experience of domestic abuse reporting domestic abuse to the police recommendations from Justisigns 2 and Silent Harm research.

This event is open to:
All community members, practitioners, BSL community, DeafBlind community, Council staff, Union representatives and third-party partners and organisations

Speakers:

Professor Jamina Napier: Professor of Intercultural Communication
Lucy Clark: Research Consultant
Alanah Harper: CEO of Deaf Links
PC Stephanie Rose KPM: Equality and Diversity Unit
DC Stephanie Jardine: Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit      

Book Empowering Deaf Woman via eventbrite.
Or email Communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
BSL interpreters, Tactile signers and an Electronic note taker will be available at the event

Special Event for Young People Supported by the East Dunbartonshire Violence Against Woman and Girls Partnership

We are pleased to introduce author Alan Bissett who will talk to young people about his book Lads: A Guide to Consent and Respect and his toolkit aimed at teenage boys to help them navigate relationships, deal with negative online influences and challenge toxic masculinity.
Alan is the author of several novels about young men, including Boyracers, Pack Men, The Incredible Adam Spark and Death of a Ladies' Man. He is also an award-winning playwright and performer, whose most well-known work for the stage is The Moira Monologues.

This event is open to:
 4th, 5th, and 6th year East Dunbartonshire Council pupils. 

Date: Wednesday 26 November
Venue: Woodland View School, Bankhead Road, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, G66 3FU
Time: 10am
To book email: Communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk 

Domestic Abuse Awareness

McGregor House, 10 Donaldson Street, Kirkintilloch, G66 1XF

Thursday 27 November, 10am-1.30pm
Email edwomensaid@aol.com to attend, be aware there is limited spaces available.

Open to :
Council staff, HSCP, The Trust, practitioners, Volunteers Union Representatives, Third Party organisations and partners.    

 

Kirkintilloch and District Soroptimist

Regent Centre, Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, G66 1JH: Stall which will display paper back books for a small donation for EDWA funds.

Thursday 27 November, 9.30am-2pm 

 

Domestic Abuse in the Workplace

McGregor House McGregor House, 10 Donaldson Street, Kirkintilloch, G66 1XF

Open To:
Local businesses, HR professionals, Union Representatives, Volunteers, Third party organisations and partners.

Friday 28 November 10-12pm 
Email edwomensaid@aol.com for detials.
 

Anything Orange organised by the Kirkintilloch and District Soroptimist

Café at the Baptist Church, 52 Townhead, Kirkintilloch

All welcome

Tuesday 2 December, 10.30-12.30pm.
No booking required
 

Beyond The Break: Understanding the challenges of post separation abuse

Join East Dunbartonshire’s Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership for our 16 Days of Action Event Anna Hawkins (Action against Stalking) Action Against Stalking delivering a presentation on stalking as a form of post separation abuse Jenn Glinski (Scottish Women’s Aid) National policy lead for economic abuse at Scottish Women's Aid - discussing post-separation economic abuse Marketplace with information stalls and resources.

Booking for Beyond the Break is Essential via Eventbrite.

Open to:
All community members, practitioners, BSL community, DeafBlind community, Council staff, Union representatives and third-party partners and organisations.

Content Disclaimer: This event will discuss gender based violence, trauma and sensitive topics that could be upsetting for some attendees. Appropriately trained support staff with be present East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid Discussing women’s experiences of child contact as a part of post-separation abuse Speakers: East Dunbartonshire Social Work A brief overview of the Safe and Together Model.

Date : Thursday 4 December 
Time: 11am
Venue: Kirkintilloch Town Hall 

To book please scan: QR code 
Or email: Communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Domestic Abuse in Teenage Relationships

McGregor House, 10 Donaldson Street, Kirkintilloch, G66 1XF

Open to:
Council staff, HSCP, The Trust, Practitioners, Union Representatives, Volunteers, Third Party organisations and partners.

Thursday 4 December, Morning 
To book email edwomensaid@aol.com, there are limited spaces available.

 

TARA training

Session covers role of TARA/ FIRST RESPONDER TRAFFICKING AWARNESS Alliance. Support provided by TARA. Understanding of human trafficking and prevalence in society today to identifying indicators of human trafficking.

Auditorium. McGregor House, 10 Donaldson Street, Kirkintilloch, G66 1XF

Open to:
Council staff, HSCP, The Trust, Practitioners, Union Representatives, Volunteers, Third part organisations and partners.

Tuesday 9 December 11-12.30pm

To book email communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk, there are limited spaces available  

All Libraries in East Dunbartonshire will be showing support for 16 Days of Action by displaying books Empowering Woman.

Services contact information

If you have concerns about a child or vulnerable adult, you can contact: East Dunbartonshire Social Work Advice and Response Team - 0141 777 3000
Out of Hours Social Work Service - 0300 343 1505
Police Scotland (non-emergency) - 101

If you are currently or have previously been impacted by gender based violence, or you are concerned about someone else there is local support available.

Local services

Contact details for local services that support victims
Contact details About the service

Visit the East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid website
Phone: 0141 776 0864
Information and support via Women's Aid Email 

A local organisation providing information, support and safe refuge accommodation for women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.

Outreach service in primary and secondary schools for children and young people who have experience of domestic abuse.

Visit the Abused Men in Scotland website
Phone: 0808 800 0024
Monday-Friday 9am to 4pm

A national organisation dedicated to supporting men who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse.

Vist the Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery (CEDAR) Project website
Phone: 0141 955 3040

An East Dunbartonshire therapeutic group work programme for children, young people (aged 4-16) and their mothers, with the main aim of helping mothers to understand the effect of domestic abuse on children and to support children in their recovery.

Visit the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis website
Phone: 08088 00 00 14
Information and support via Rape Crisis Center email
Workers can call their office line on 0141 552 3201

A support service for women and girls aged 13 and over who have been raped, sexually assaulted or sexually abused at some point in their lifetime.

Vist the Scotland’s National Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline website
24-Hour national helpline: 0800 027 1234
Information and support via SDAFMH email

A confidential 24-hour support service for anyone with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues and professionals who support them.

Visit the Galop website
LGBT+ domestic abuse national helpline: 0800 999 5428                    
LGBT+ domestic abuse information and support via Galop email

A confidential LGBT+ service for all members of the LGBT communities, their family, friends, and agencies supporting them. Information and support on hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse. They also support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system.

Visit the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre website
Phone: 08088 010 789
Tuesday 6pm to 9pm, Wednesday 1.30pm to 4.30pm and Friday 10am to1pm

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre help women aged 16 and over affected by violence and abuse by providing free legal information and advice. Weekly surgeries in Glasgow and monthly surgeries in Lanarkshire available.

Viat the Police Scotland website
Emergency – 999
Non-emergencies - 101

Information about how to report domestic abuse can be found on the Police Scotland website. The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scheme gives men and women the right to ask about the background of their partner, potential partner or someone who is in a relationship with someone they know, and there is a concern that the individual may be abusive. Find out more about the Disclosure Scheme on the Police Scotland Website.

Visit the Childline website
24 hour national helpline: 0800 1111
Information and support via email Childline
Information and support via 1-2-1 counsellor chat 

A free and confidential service for anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they are going through including domestic abuse.