In celebration of International Women’s Day, I am supporting the #AnyWomanAnywhere campaign.

More than 1 in 3 women experience violence in their lifetime. Violence can affect Any Woman, Anywhere - regardless of their backgrounds, social status, sexuality, faith, ethnicity or ability.

Both women and men are more likely to experience violence at the hands of men and all of this violence is unacceptable.

This violence isn’t always physical, it can be sexual harassment at work, controlling behaviour in a relationship, stalking, online abuse, spiritual, emotional and psychological abuse, and street harassment.

These forms of violence and abuse might not cause physical suffering but still cause huge harm to survivors.

Violence Against Women is not inevitable. We can all work to end violence against women. We can raise awareness that violence exists in many forms and it affects all women. And we can challenge gender inequality which leads to this violence.

HELPLINES

POLICE SCOTLAND

T: 999 – Emergency T: 101 – Non-Emergency

SCOTLAND’S DOMESTIC ABUSE AND FORCED MARRIAGE HELPLINE

Help for anyone with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues and professionals who support them

T: 0800 027 1234 – Free, confidential, 7 days, 24 hours a day E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (response within 2 days by email)

CHILDLINE

Counselling service for children and young people

T: 0800 11 11 – Free, confidential, 7 days, 24 hours a day

RAPE CRISIS SCOTLAND HELPLINE

Help for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened.

T: 08088 01 03 02 - any day - 6pm - midnight. T: 0141 353 3091 if you are deaf or hard of hearing

RESPECT PHONELINE

For anyone who is concerned about their own behaviour towards their partner (male, female, in heterosexual or same-sex relationships)

T: 0808 802 4040, confidential, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM) HELPLINE

Call the FGM helpline if you’re worried a child is at risk of, or has had, FGM.

T: 0800 028 3550 – Free, confidential, 7 days, 24 hours a day

AMINA: MUSLIM WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE

Help for women in English, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi, Bangli and Swahili and, when required, using online interpreting.

T: 0808 801 0301 – Monday to Friday – 10am – 4pm W: www.mwrc.org.uk