Equally Safe East Lothian

Working towards an Equally Safe East Lothian

Equally Safe is Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.

Vision:  A strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation — and the attitudes that help perpetuate it.

Aim of Equally Safe:  To work collaboratively with key partners in the public, private and third sectors to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls.

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Equally Safe East Lothian (Video)

The impacts of violence are wide-ranging and can have a long-term impact on the lives of those affected, as well as on their families and communities.  As well as damaging health and wellbeing, it can limit freedom and potential.

Women, children, and young people who have experienced violence, abuse and exploitation in Scotland are at increased risk of experiencing inequality of outcomes throughout their lives including:

• physical and mental health problems,
• homelessness,
• drug and alcohol support needs,
• reduced education and employment opportunities,
• injuries and even death

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VAWG is a blight on Scottish society. It is a consequence of gender inequality and harms all of us.

We need to understand what VAWG is and how it impacts those who experience it, its impact on society more generally, the scale of the problem, and what causes it.

VAWG occurs in every community across Scotland. It is often overlooked, minimised, accepted as the norm, or justified to protect the so-called honour of a family, community, or faith group.

The definition of VAWG includes the actual and threat of:

• physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse occurring in the family, within the general community, and in institutions in both physical and digital spaces and places
• domestic abuse/coercive controlling behaviours, stalking, rape, incest, sexual harassment, bullying, and intimidation
• commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), including prostitution, lap dancing, stripping, pornography
• human trafficking, including for the purposes of domestic servitude, sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation, which may include gangs and organised criminal networks
• child abuse occurring within family settings, including domestic abuse, and sexual abuse by male family members including siblings
• child sexual abuse and exploitation including the production and sharing of indecent images of children
• honour-based abuse, including forced marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM), dowry abuse and ‘honour based’ coercive control and killings.

Boys experience domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and exploitation in significant numbers. That is why the Equally Safe strategy covers all children and young people.

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• Approx 15,800 women and 4,500 children in East Lothian are likely to be experiencing domestic abuse.  This is based on national statistics that indicate 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 children across Scotland are affected by domestic abuse.
   
• There were 1,285 incidents of domestic abuse against women recorded by Police in East Lothian 2023-24. This figure has stayed the same for three years.  This does not include incidents of domestic abuse recorded against children and young people.  It also does not include the number of incidents that happen but are not reported to the police.
   
• Domestic abuse is the most common reason women and children present as homeless in East Lothian.   In 2024/2025 127 women presented as homeless due to domestic abuse.
   
• The perpetrators of domestic abuse are also living in East Lothian communities.  
  Individuals that are convicted of offences, engage with East Lothian’s Justice Social Work team and are enrolled in the Caledonian System, which is an integrated approach to address men’s domestic abuse and improve the lives of women, children and men.  
  • The Men’s service uses techniques to recognise their abuse and take responsibility for themselves, and their relationships with their ex/partners. 
  • The women’s service provides safety planning information, and advice and emotional support to female ex/partners. 
  • The children’s service addresses the needs of children in these situations, ensuring they receive appropriate help and their voices are heard.

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Tackling violence agains women and girls is everyone's business.

East Lothian is committed to ensuring that all women, children and young people across our communities live their lives free from violence and abuse and are supported to achieve the best possible outcomes.

All organisations, services and policy areas across East Lothian have a role to play in ensuring women, children and young people’s safety and wellbeing needs are met.

East Lothian Council is committed to identifying opportunities to embed outcomes and actions from the new Equally Safe strategy across relevant community planning policy and service areas.

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Across each of East Lothian services, departments and teams we can collectively challenge and transform the attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate, excuse and seek to minimise gender-based violence.

Don't be a passive bystander

If you see or hear of something that just doesn’t feel right.

• STOP – and offer your help
• SUPPORT – the person to safety
• REPORT – it if they want to
   

Accessing Support

If you or someone you know / suspect is experiencing any form of violence or abuse help is available.

Agencies that can support men, women and children experiencing violence / abuse are detailed in the Public Protection pages of this website.

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