8th June 2026
COSLA has published its final Manifesto White Paper, “Strengthening Local Delivery to Prevent and Eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls”, warning that Scotland risks falling short of its commitment to tackle violence against women and girls unless national ambition is matched by sustainable local funding and practical reform that supports delivery in communities.
The paper highlights rising demand across housing, social work, education, justice and health, with costs largely absorbed by councils despite responsibility for meeting international standards sitting with national government. It points to a widening gap between ambition and delivery in a very challenging local government fiscal environment, and argues that without flexible, longer-term funding and a stronger place-based approach, crisis pressures will continue to crowd out prevention.
COSLA sets out five priorities in the paper, including aligning local government funding with demand, investing in workforce capacity, and recognising Violence Against Women Partnerships as core infrastructure. These asks reflect the wider Manifesto case for sustainable local services, stronger local delivery and public service reform shaped around communities.
COSLA has called for direct Scottish Government investment in Local Government to support their ongoing joint action to prevent and tackle all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls over the next five years.
COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Cllr Maureen Chalmers, said:
“Scottish Local Government is committed to preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, but that commitment needs to be matched by a system that supports delivery. This means working in genuine partnership – with national government, Local Government and the third sector - with funding and decision making aligned to local needs and priorities. Strengthening investment in Local Government will improve local delivery and help achieve better outcomes for women and girls across Scotland.”
