THE Scottish Government has launched a public consultation on plans to criminalise misogyny.
The legislative plans follow a report by experts which called for legislation to be introduced that would create a new statutory aggravation of misogyny.
Chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, the independent working group on misogyny report, Misogyny – A Human Rights Issue, called for the new offences to be implemented as part of “radical and transformative” legal reforms to protect women from abuse.
The report recommended the creation of new criminal law provisions against crime such as assault, criminal damage or threatening or abusive behaviour which is aggravated by misogyny.
And it includes the criminalising of stirring up hatred against women, issuing threats of, or invoking rape or sexual assault or disfigurement of women and girls online and offline.
Accepting the recommendations set out by the group, the Scottish Government has announced plans to develop draft legislative provisions which will be put to the public for consultation.
Keith Brown, Justice Secretary, said: “The independent report rightly recognises the need to address misogyny and makes a compelling case for creating new laws to tackle this unacceptable conduct.
“The Scottish Government response outlines how we intend to make progress on the blueprint for legislation contained within the report by bringing forward a bill to the Scottish Parliament.
“With such a substantial and significant report, it will take time to work through the recommendations in discussion with key partners, but we are confident the resulting legislation will help send a clear message that male attitudes which emanate from prejudice and misogyny have no place in a modern and equal Scotland.”
Following the report’s publication, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backed the “ground-breaking” proposals, in which she said current laws are “failing women”.
The report also highlighted that experiencing misogynistic behaviour is a routine experience of women and girls in Scotland and the experiences of LGBTI+ and minority ethnic women tend to be even worse.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here