Equally Safe delivery plan: progress report

Deliverable 13

13. We will develop an action plan to implement the Istanbul Convention recommendations

Delivery plan actions to help meet this deliverable:

13.1 We will review and respond to the recommendations from the Istanbul Convention’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

13.2 We will develop an action plan to implement the Istanbul Convention’s recommendations.

Overview

Following publication of the UK-wide report by the Group of Experts on Violence Against Women and Girls appointed by the Council of Europe (GREVIO) in June 2025, the Scottish Government and key partners have reviewed the contents in detail and began work to address the recommendations.

A key step forward was the national leadership event held during the 2025 16 Days of Activism campaign, with each thematic workshop chosen specifically for its potential to support early progress. The themes were: funding for VAWG services, data, the justice journey, and staff skills and training.

The updates below outline early areas of progress while recognising that sustained, coordinated action over the short, medium and long term will be essential to support effective policy development and maintain momentum. The next Equally Safe delivery plan will also set out ambitions that advance many of the GREVIO recommendations.

Education

GREVIO’s education-related recommendations focus on preventing gender-based violence in school settings, strengthening curriculum content, enhancing professional learning, promoting whole-school approaches, and recognising education as a key site of early intervention. The updated Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood guidance published in February 2026 strengthens the multi-agency approach to preventing GBV and complements other key areas of work, including the Whole School Approach, which is currently under review, and Equally Safe at School. As part of the Equally Safe Delivery Plan, Education Scotland - working with Rape Crisis Scotland and other partners - is developing a mapping tool to support schools in navigating GBV-prevention resources, which is due to launch in Spring 2026. Together, these developments demonstrate a more coordinated education response as Scotland progresses its commitments under both GREVIO and Equally Safe.

Marketing campaign

GREVIO underlines the need for authorities, including the Scottish Government, to take measures to address harmful social and cultural attitudes by strengthening prevention efforts, in particular through awareness-raising, public messaging and campaigns aimed at challenging gender stereotypes and combating all forms of VAWG. On 16 February 2026, the Scottish Government launched a marketing campaign urging boys not to engage with misogynistic content online, emphasising that ‘sexist content is never harmless’. Co-created with young people, the campaign helps boys recognise the link between harmful online content and real-world impacts, encouraging positive action, with parents and carers as a secondary audience. The campaign is a very clear step towards responding directly to GREVIO’s call for stronger public messaging to challenge misogynistic attitudes and harmful gender norms.

Sustainable, Long-Term Funding for VAWG Services

Recognising GREVIO’s call for sustained financial resourcing for VAWG services, Scotland will continue to progress our commitment to develop a sustainable funding model for specialist violence against women services. As an initial step towards developing a more sustainable funding model, we are providing a 5% uplift to the Delivering Equally Safe Fund, in addition to multi-year funding, over 2026-2028. This will help give funded organisations the stability and greater certainty they need to plan ahead, retain specialist staff and sustain their vital services. Multi-year funding is subject to annual budget processes.

The funding workshop at the national event explored how GREVIO’s recommendations could support the development of a new, sustainable model for VAWG services aligned with Equally Safe, and noted ongoing work - such as the Equally Safe outcomes framework and the VAWG Needs-Assessment Tool - as important foundations. The group agreed that developing a funding framework, grounded in a clear understanding of need and available resources, would be a valuable next step.

Justice

A dedicated justice implementation group has been established to address GREVIO’s justice-related recommendations, providing coordinated oversight across criminal and civil justice partners. The group brings together COPFS, Police Scotland and others to streamline existing structures, align messaging, resolve challenges, and coordinate Scotland’s collective response to obligations under GREVIO and the Istanbul Convention.

Workforce training

Work is underway to help meet GREVIO’s call for systematic initial and in-service training to be provided to relevant professionals. While a wide range of training already exists, there is acknowledgment that provision remains inconsistent and often lacks the reflective practice and supervision needed. Key opportunities of progress include the development of the Equally Safe in Practice framework and the associated steering group to define the skills required for a VAWG-competent workforce, alongside commitments in the education sector through the GBV in Schools Taskforce. Together, these developments mark steps towards a more consistent, coordinated and trauma-informed approach to workforce training, in line with GREVIO’s recommendations.

Whilst the areas outlined here are not exhaustive, they highlight where ongoing activity is supporting progress in key areas and demonstrating Scotland’s continued commitment to implementing the GREVIO recommendations. While work across many areas is still at an early stage, initial actions across education, justice, funding for VAWG services, and workforce development, provide a strong foundation for coordinated and sustained long-term improvement.

Case study: The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence National Event

I was pleased to lead the national event in November 2025 with my Equally Safe co-Chair, Councillor Chalmers and to be joined by Jan Savage from the Scottish Human Rights Commission. The 16 Days of Activism national event marked such an important moment in our collective journey towards developing Scotland’s response to the GREVIO recommendations.

It also served as a clear reminder that our obligations under the Convention are not optional: the Scottish Government has a duty to uphold fundamental human rights, and to do so within the wider context of our international commitments.

I was encouraged to see such a range of sectoral leaders in attendance, each bringing their invaluable expertise - qualities that will be essential as we work together to take forward the recommendations, and crucially, turn them in to meaningful actions.

The event was specifically intended to be in a workshop format, to allow for in-depth discussions, and was structured around four key themes: funding for VAWG services, data, workforce training and skills, and the justice journey. I greatly appreciated the chance to listen to and participate in the workshop conversations, and I am conscious that these initial themes were selected precisely because they offer opportunities for collaboration to begin making a tangible impact.

My overall reflection from this event was that it created a sense of shared responsibility and purpose - and that our implementation efforts should be grounded in working together to meet Scotland’s needs as we move forward.

Reflections from Kaukab Stewart MSP, Minister for Equalities