Today, as we mark the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, COSLA stands alongside partners across Scotland and around the world in reaffirming our shared commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

This year the 16 days theme chosen in Scotland is ‘All Together to Prevent and Tackle Gender Based Violence’. This reminds us that progress is possible when we act collectively. This also offers us a platform to shine a light on the vital work being led by Local Authorities collaborating with strategic partners in our communities every day.

This time last year, COSLA agreed to move forward with a bold ambition set out in the refreshed Equally Safe Delivery Plan: to enhance women’s access to power and resources as a driver across all aspects of our business and leadership. Over the past six months, we have worked to ensure gender considerations are explored within COSLA’s corporate priorities and across key policy areas, including social security, employability, housing, New Scots, elected office, justice, and community cohesion. These efforts are actively contributing to advancing gender equality.

COSLA Leaders have reaffirmed tackling Violence Against Women and Girls as a priority in the 2026 Local Government Manifesto under the theme ‘Thriving and Cohesive Communities’.

Internally, we are encouraging officers to integrate gender into professional development and exploring participation in improvement programmes such as Equally Safe at Work.

Planning is underway for a COSLA Boards’ Roundtable early next year to address challenges and identify practical solutions that may lie within the gift of local government to progress despite the challenging fiscal environment. -While forward movement is evident, we acknowledge that resource and capacity constraints continue to influence the pace and scale of delivering against our Equally Safe commitments. Despite these challenges, our dedication remains unwavering.

Together with the Scottish Government and key stakeholders, we are supporting a rich and varied programme of events during these 16 Days, highlighting leadership and innovation across local authorities and multi-agency partnerships.

Looking ahead, our priorities include further embedding of gender equality across multiple portfolio areas, strengthening collaboration to enhance women’s access to power and resources, and advancing preparatory work for the COSLA White Paper on Violence Against Women and Girls, scheduled for publication in 2026.

We will continue to develop organisational and workforce initiatives, maintain leadership engagement, and convene a COSLA Roundtable in early 2026 to inform the White Paper.

Together, we will keep moving forward - because achieving gender equality cannot wait, and ending violence against women and girls is a responsibility we all share.

28th November 2025