Scottish Women’s Aid thanks Ruth Maguire MSP for raising an important question in Parliament about the continued failure to implement the Children (Scotland) Act 2020. Five years have passed since the Act became law, yet vital safeguards for children experiencing domestic abuse, including regulation of Child Welfare Reporters and child contact centres, and improved access to advocacy, are still not in place. These delays continue to put children at risk of harm. With Scottish Parliament elections next year, it is essential that the next Government commits to full and urgent implementation of the Act. Children cannot afford another five years of promises without action. We welcome @rbfmaguire's efforts to hold the Government to account. Scotland’s children deserve safety, protection, and a system that listens to them. The ongoing delays are only deepening the child contact ‘disaster’ Ruth has so rightly highlighted.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Christina McKelvie MSP, a vital and compassionate advocate for the cause, and would like to share this message from our CEO, Dr Marsha Scott. “Christina was just the best. As an MSP, as a minister, as an advocate, as a campaigner, as a sister. Over my last 10 years at SWA, Christina was the stalwart presence who always had our backs while she strode ahead working so hard for women and children and particularly survivors of domestic abuse. She got it, she got us, and she got that women's and girls' lives needed to matter more in all aspects of public and private life. Christina was absolutely critical to the survival of the Women's Aid network during the pandemic. She was on the phone to SWA within days of lockdown, asking what survivors and their local services needed. And the money was in our bank and flowing out to all parts of Scotland in a week. She was a force of nature in the kindest and most generous ways, a relentless and loving agent of change. All the while dispensing hugs for all. Our only adequate response is to carry on our work infused by her inimitable brand of radical kindness.”

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical; it can include controlling behaviour, emotional manipulation, economic abuse and more. Scotland's Domestic Abuse & Forced Marriage Helpline is open 24/7. 📞 0800 027 1234 📱 Text/WhatsApp 07401 288 595 💻 sdafmh.org.uk

Women often bear the brunt of financial and caregiving pressures, working part-time or in lower-paid roles—leaving them particularly vulnerable to violence and abuse. This is about more than policies; it’s about creating meaningful change in how we support those impacted by gender-based violence. As one of the first teams working towards the Equally Safe in Practice (ESiP) Kitemark, Fife Council’s Housing and Safer Communities teams are leading by example. 🎥 Watch the clip to see how they’re making a real difference. To take part and find out more, join our upcoming webinar. equallysafeinpractice.scot/g… #DeliveringEquallySafe #VAWG #GenderEquality #WorkforceDevelopment #DomesticAbuse #CulturalChange

🔚 At the end of #16Days, it’s clear: Scotland’s child contact system is putting women and children in danger. With over 900 📞 calls to our helpline this year alone, we hear about how the current system exhausts survivors emotionally and financially, puts children through traumatic experiences, and allows abusers to manipulate the legal system ⚖️ to keep control. ⚠️ Reform is long overdue. At Scottish Women’s Aid, we are committed to advocating for change across the legal, government, and support systems to end this cycle of harm. Women and children deserve safety, justice, and freedom from control. 👀 Watch this space. More coming on #ChildContactReform #StillNotSafe #16Days #EndDomesticAbuse #MakeThemSafe

📢Our #ForThemAll vigil is happening tonight. At 7pm, join Scottish Women’s Aid’s #ForThemAll online vigil to remember all the women and children who have died because of domestic abuse. 💡 How to Participate: 🕯️Light a candle and post a photo with the hashtag #ForThemAll. 📱Use the downloadable vigil graphics or share personal reflections. 📍Tag @scotwomensaid to show your support. 🔗womensaid.scot/project/for-t… Let’s stand together, remember, reflect - and demand change. Your voice matters. 💜 #16Days

📢"It's a lonely, never-ending nightmare."📢 Listen to a member of our Survivor Reference Group share her thoughts on how child contact systems in Scotland are failing to protect child and women survivors of #DomesticAbuse. This #16Days during our #StillNotSafe campaign we're raising awareness of these failings and calling for bold, lasting change.

Today is the first day of #16Days and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. To mark this day we are launching our #StillNotSafe child contact campaign. During #16 days and beyond we will be pushing for reform of the systems that deliver damaging child contact decisions and make women and children unsafe and re-traumatised. We will advocate for change, implementation and reform across Government, justice and legal systems, social work, and support services. These decisions result in abuse against women and children after they are supposedly free of their abuser. They are not. Over #16Days we’ll share the experiences of those who have been through the system. It’s time for reform. #StillNotSafe #16Days

It is not only journalists and newsrooms who are at risk of being silenced when it comes to the use of abusive lawsuits Apsana Begum shared her experience of lawfare as a victim of domestic abuse today in the House of Commons

Well done to the team on Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline who have been shortlisted for three Awards from the @helplinesP in recognition of the amazing, sensitive, expert service they provide🎉 They are nominated for: *Helpline of the Year Award *Staff Wellbeing Support Award *Innovation and Sustainability Award Good luck to the Helpline team - who find out on 7th November if they have won - and congratulations to all other nominees 🏆

📢Stop asking ‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’ 📢 How can we ask women to uproot themselves, their children and their lives when they have no money, no income and no access to immediate support? And why should we expect them to? Economic abuse further constrains the already very limited choices women have when it comes to separating from an abuser. It can make women reliant on abusers for a roof over their head and food on their table. And it presents them with the impossible choice between staying and continuing to experience abuse, or leaving and facing poverty and destitution for themselves and their children. This is not the way things should be. Empower our work around economic abuse because #FreedomShouldntCost. Donate today and your donation will be generously matched by the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund, so your money will go twice as far: bit.ly/4gVZtLk

📣 Economic abuse: a hidden crisis 📣 Societal taboos make talking about money difficult. And age-old cultural norms of men being in control of household income and finances can make abuse hard to spot. Learn more about what economic abuse is and join us to tackle it here: bit.ly/4gVZtLk Every penny donated today will be generously matched by the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund – so your donation will go twice as far! #FreedomShouldntCost #EndEconomicAbuse

📣NEW CAMPAIGN! 📣 Today we’re launching our new campaign - #FreedomShouldntCost - to raise funds to empower our work around #EconomicAbuse. If you donate between today and 17th October, your donation will be generously matched by the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund, so every penny raised this week will go twice as far! During the campaign we’ll be sharing more about what economic abuse is, and how it impacts women and children. At SWA, we think freedom from abuse shouldn’t cost you your income, your home, your education, your savings or your future. Your donation over the next week can help us elevate the issue of economic abuse across Scotland, so that economic abuse is recognised for the devastating criminal behaviour that it is, and so that survivors get the emotional and practical support they need, when they need it. Together, we can make real change 💪 : bit.ly/4gVZtLk #FreedomShouldntCost #EndEconomicAbuse

Great things happen when amazing women get together… can’t wait to hear more about it! Sorry I couldn’t join you all #FOMO 😂 @maxinehawthorn @liznolan243 @SWACEO

🚀 Excited to launch our #HerFreedomScotland campaign on #WomensEqualityDay! 🎉 Join us in amplifying experiences of #DomesticAbuse in Scotland. All you need is a pair of shoes & your creativity. Let's envision freedom together! Further details 👉 ow.ly/3Onq50SUyAv

Our new creative campaign launches tomorrow! 🎉 It's for everyone who envisions a #Scotland free from #domesticabuse and wants to raise their voice. The campaign involves a pair of shoes and your creativity. That’s today’s teaser—stay tuned for more! 👀