Equally Safe delivery plan: progress report

Deliverable 9

9. We will improve our response to the many forms of technology facilitated VAWG

Delivery plan actions to help meet this deliverable:

9.1 We will identify the digital inclusion needs of women and girls who have experienced technology facilitated VAWG and improve support available to them.

9.2 We will work with the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Strategy Group to understand technology facilitated CSAE.

9.3 We will continue to engage with Ofcom as it carries out its duties under the UK Online Safety Act.

Overview

We have established a VAWG Digital Inclusion Network, led by Mhor Collective and funded by the Scottish Government. This Network brings together specialist VAWG services to explore ways to improve survivors’ access to information and advice, to develop and share digital resources, and to strengthen the sector’s capacity to respond to technology facilitated VAWG. Furthermore, in recognition of the distinct barriers faced by specific groups of women, action learning groups have been established to address the digital inclusion needs of minority ethnic women, women involved in commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and women in rural and remote areas.

The Scottish Government has been working with the UK Government on powers under the Crime and Policing Bill, including the creation of new offences relating to the possession and distribution of ‘manuals’ designed to facilitate the use of AI tools to generate child sexual abuse materials.