 I invite members who are leaving the chamber to do so as quickly and quietly as possible. The final item of business is a member's business debate on motion 1820, in the name of Paul MacLennan, on 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The debate will be concluded without any questions being posed. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons as soon as possible, or play some art in the chat function. I call on Paul MacLennan to open the debate for around seven minutes, Mr MacLennan. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I recently met staff and women supported by women's aid east in Midlodion. I heard their experiences of women who have fled from domestic abuse and had the opportunity to understand the impact of the violence that they were subject to, has had on them and on their children. These brave women have had their lives turned upside down after finding the courage to escape their abuser. Thankfully, they were able to do so safely. Recent figures show that every three days in East Llywodion, a woman suffers and reports domestic abuse. That is only cases that are reported. Since leaving, they told me that they have faced challenges in finding a home to call their own, as the service that has not been designed to support women who flee violence. I remember taking part in an event organised by women's aid in the white ribbon campaign about 10 years ago when I was a council leader. The exercise looked at what happened when a case was reported and how many people and organisations it impacted on. It started with a ball of string, and this was a woman who was reporting domestic abuse. It was passed round to all organisations and to all that has been affected. By the end, there were about 30 of us standing up, and that stayed with me to this day. Today's debate pays homage to the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, a time to galvanise action to prevent and end violence against women and girls around the world. I know and am aware that this is the third debate that we have had on this issue in the past 16 days. I thank everybody who has contributed so far. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the global 16 days campaign. It was inspired by the original vision and history of the campaign, which focused on raising awareness about violence against women. This year, the campaign will focus on the issue of femicide or the gender-related killing of women. A theme that feels especially pertinent this year after high-profile murder of Sarah Everard by Metropolitan Police Officer Wayne Cousins. Sadly, Sarah's murder is not an isolated incident. Since the beginning of 2021, there have been at least 122 women killed by men, or where a man is a principal suspect in the UK. In that period, I have done a lot of reflect on the role that I have as a man in preventing acts of violence against women of any kind. Last month, Police Scotland launched an incredibly important Don't Be That Guy campaign, calling on men to consider their potential responsibility for violence against women. The campaign is explicit. Men, we can make a real difference by taking a hard look at our attitudes and behaviour at home, at work and socialising with our mates. As men, we need to stop contributing to our culture that targets, minimises, demeans and brutalises women. We need to talk openly to our male friends and relatives about behaviour that is damaging to women and puts men at risk of offending. We need to take women's safety seriously. We can't say that enough. Not just when a woman is murdered but all year round. We must shift the way that we understand violence against women. It's not a woman's problem. It's ours and it always has been. To do this, we need to redefine violence in our own minds. I recently spoke at an SNP conference in a debate led by my colleague Sally Donald and she talked about street harassment. It's an everyday occurrence for women and girls in Scotland. I'm going to ask the minister and he's summing up will he meet Sally and I to discuss this issue in more detail. Graham Golden, formerly of the Violence Reduction Unit in Glasgow, has called on us men to define violence in a way that would help us individually prevent it. In a blog for the Don't Be That Guy campaign, he says, When I see the term violence, I look at it as more than an attitude, a behaviour rather than a physical act. When we do this, we can start to address behaviours and attitudes that can, if challenged, lead to another act of violence, such as murder, sexual assault and rape. When we don't focus on these behaviours, when we remain silent about what we see and what we hear, we give permission for abuse and violence to take place. Graham couldn't be any more correct. Violence against women is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality in our society. Gender stereotypes are enforced from an early age. Rape culture and harmful behaviours are normalised and survivors are blamed for their abusers' actions. We place responsibility in women to be careful, not to walk home alone. I've heard a comment where flat shoes, that's incredible, to watch her drinking the night out and cover up instead of teaching men not to rape, spike and harm women. This has never been acceptable. I want to see a Scotland where women and girls thrive as equal citizens, socially, culturally, economically and politically. I want to live in a Scottish society where women and girls are safe, respected and equal in our own communities, where women and men have equal access to power and resources and positive gender roles are promoted. We need to embed gender competency into our policy making, gender-based budgeting into everything that we do. Scotland's equally safe strategy is taking strides towards achieving this goal, but we all have our own role in turning our vision into reality. It is all our especially men's responsibility to change the culture that we live in that trivialises and condones violence against women and girls. I am making a challenge to every single MSP in this Parliament. We need to be standing here, this time next year, put our hand on our heart and say that we have played our part in speaking out against male violence against women, not just today, not just in the 16 days, but every single day. I am in the process of organising the round table for all male MSPs with organisations that are involved in the campaign to support women. I am also arranging a parliamentary reception with the same groups. Those dates, hopefully, will be before Easter. To conclude the opening of this debate on the annual 16 days of activism, I want to pay tribute to the strength and resilience of survivors and to organisations such as late crisis Scotland, zero tolerance, Scotland's women's aid and white ribbon, who work day and night to support women who have experienced male violence. I want to remember all the women who have made it this far those who have lost their lives to male violence. I would like to end on a quote from the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. There is one universal truth that is applicable to all countries, cultures and communities. Violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable. Thank you. Mr McLean, before calling the next speaker, I just advise colleagues that there is a large amount of interest, understandably, in participating in this debate. It is likely that we will have to extend the time available, and we will do that at an appropriate stage in the debate. For now, I call Audrey Nicholl to be followed by Russell Finlay for around four minutes, Ms Nicholl. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I wish to thank Paul McLeanon for bringing this motion forward today and again to acknowledge the resilience of women and girls who are experiencing or have survived gender-based violence in Scotland and beyond. Last week, during our second debate on the issue, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans made a very valid point that the experiences of female veterans had not been mentioned. He alluded to the experience of women and the armed forces and made reference to his recent visit to a veterans facility in Fife that was supporting a survivor of gender-based violence. Today, I want to pick up on the issue, but first pay tribute to all women serving in and veterans of our military for their commitment, bravery and sacrifice in safeguarding our national security. There are more than 20,000 service women in our armed forces. Women can now apply for all the same roles as men. There is no doubt that the armed forces provide women with fulfilling careers and vast opportunities. However, for many women in the military, their experiences are very different. Earlier this year, the UK Government Defence Committee published its report on protecting those who protect us, women in the armed forces, from recruitment to civilian life, following its inquiry into the situation of and challenges facing women in the armed forces today. The report found, and I quote, that there is too much bullying, harassment and discrimination and criminal behaviour such as sexual assault and rape affecting service personnel. There is no doubt that female personnel suffer disproportionately. The stories that we heard are truly shocking and gravely concern us. They are disappointing, given the MOD's commitment to ending unacceptable behaviours. That behaviour is harming the health, careers and operational effectiveness of service personnel and has no place in the military. The forces and the MOD must root out those behaviours and respond better when they occur. The report also explored the experiences of female veterans and concluded that, although many reported positive experiences transitioning to civilian life, many reported challenges relating to physical or mental health issues, relationship problems, debt and unemployment. Dr Beverly Bergman of the Scottish Veterans Health Research Group highlighted that there are few female-specific veterans services in the UK, noting that many women prefer gender-based services, especially if they have been the victim of sexual or domestic abuse or harassment. Work is now under way to address the many issues raised in the report. Although the findings in the report are stark, they must offer an opportunity for change. The Scottish Government's strategy, support for the veterans and armed forces community, outlines our approach to supporting veterans across issues, including mental health, homelessness and substance misuse, and sets out the vital role of the Scottish Veterans Fund, the Unforgotten Forces Consortium, third sector partners and charities, all under the watchful eye of our veterans commissioner. However, support for women remains very limited, and while programmes, such as the women's returner programme, that supports women back into work, there is still so much more to do in addressing the specific challenges women face that arise from the impact of gender-based violence. While recognising defence as a reserved matter, nonetheless, I urge the Scottish Government to use the powers that it has to ensure women are front and centre of our continuing efforts to tackle the issue, and I look forward to working with the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister to take this very important work forward. Last week, I spoke in another debate about violence against women and girls, and it is the proper and necessary for us to be doing so again today. I congratulate Mr MacLennan for securing the debate. Many of last week's speakers highlighted the reality of women and girls in modern Scotland. That can include everyday experiences of discrimination and misogyny. Then there are the sexual assaults and rapes, the drink-spiking predators, violence and abuse in the home, trafficking for sex, stalking and revenge porn, the pressure on young girls to act in a sexualised way. One revelation was that, on average, a woman is killed by a man every three days in the United Kingdom. The common denominator in all of this is men. Society is beginning to understand that it is on men to accept wrongdoing to change and to challenge others. As Mr MacLennan said, we all bear responsibility. Last week, I spoke about Esther Brown, who was sexually violated and beaten to death in her own home by a registered sex offender, whose 23 previous convictions included the rape of another woman in her home. I asked questions of Police Scotland on behalf of some of Esther's friends, but we were fobbed off. Despite the rhetoric of compassion, the impersonal criminal justice system suffers from, I believe, an entrenched secrecy. That secrecy and an accountability vacuum means that victims will continue to be failed. Today, I would like to speak about another disturbing case in which I have had a direct involvement. It is a partially told account of a pedophile ring operating in the heart of Edinburgh. In 1997, a girl aged 10 accused a man called David Scott of sexually abusing her. She says that she was not believed, she believes that she was punished for speaking out, she tried to take her own life, she lives with the trauma of her abuse every single day. In 2018, more than 20 years later, Scott was finally jailed for sexually abusing her and five other girls over a 45-year period. Why, his victims asked, was this prolific pedophile free to target other children for two decades? After reporting on the horrific case for the BBC, I spoke with the family of one of Scott's later victims. She was aged eight when the abuse began, but Scott did not act alone. This girl gave police a detailed account of being targeted by five other men at a flat in Blackfriar Street, only half a mile from this spot. She saw Scott taking cash from these men. Her family urged the police to investigate. Just last week, one of those men was jailed for 11 years for abusing this same girl and a boy. Gary Thompson was that man, he was the tenant of the Blackfriar Street flat. Only now is the link between Thompson and Scott being made public. Evidence of pedophiles colluding in organised abuse is shocking and obscene, but what of the other men in this flat? Police Scotland tells me that inquiries are continuing. It is also worth saying that, for anyone with any concerns or seeking information on abuse, please see the website of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The next time a child speaks out, they must be listened to. I would quickly like to conclude by echoing Mr MacLennan's comments that activism and awareness are not just for 16 days, but should be for every single day. I thank Paul MacLennan for bringing this to members' debate this evening. I apologise to presiding members who will have to leave a wee bit early to attend the session with the presiding officer this evening, but I hope that members know that I am absolutely committed to the important issues and the third time I have spoken like others in the past couple of weeks. We have witnessed in recent times an increase in domestic violence, the murder of women and so on. It is a reminder that, if it was ever needed, the violence against women is sadly endemic in our society and it is global. It is not just in Scotland and the UK that we face endemic problems of violence against women by men, but it is across the world. We must do our bit. Violence against women in the overwhelming majority of cases is men's violence against women. When some men say that it is not all men, they are perhaps missing the point. Of course, not all men are violent. I hope that Paul MacLennan is trying to make, and I agree that men must be part of the solution. We cannot do it without men. Men must address this problem amongst their own sex. The issue that violence against women is probably not had the highest priority that it should have. This Parliament must make a difference. We must believe that, by the end of the four and a bit years that we have still to go, that we are going to begin to change this picture and reverse these statistics. For decades, there has indeed been a lack of male voices speaking about violence against women. I hope that that is changing. It may be changing. However, it is important to say that there must be a serious analysis of why women are subjected to everyday sexism, workplace sexism and some of the speeches that have been made already. Addressing different parts of our society is everywhere you want to look. I recently read a story about women in the military who said that it became a common place for them to be expected to be groped in training sessions. That is in our military, and we know that we have endemic problems in our police service, too. However, I believe that there is a big connection with what happens in our schools and the way that women and girls are treated. I was shocked to watch the Zahra McDermott recent BBC documentary on covering rape culture, which looks at the burgeoning rape culture in British schools. I did call in last week for the domain assessment as to whether or not we have this problem in Scotland. I'd be surprised if we didn't. It was shocking to learn that boys as young as nine and 10 were viewing online pornography. Of course, I do believe that that affects the way they view girls and understand sex. A recent report by academics from University College London and Kent University, among other institutions, highlighted that the sending and receiving of unsolicited sexual images is now becoming dangerous like normalised. It is a normalisation of that that gives me real cause for concern, especially for girls. A study involving young people aged 12 to 18 found that most girls had received an image of male genitalia, often from adult men who were strangers. The report said that, unfortunately, this form of image-based sexual harassment was often experienced on a regular basis. Over half of the boys and girls who had received unwanted sexual content online or had their image shared without their consent did nothing about it. Girls also felt pressurised to trade intimate images with boys who sent pictures on solicitors. They were mocked or bullied in their photos and they were shared among their classmates. We must know if that is something that is happening in Scottish schools and we must understand the connection that there is with the way that girls and women are treated. Social media, such as TikTok and Snapchat, must be tackled because they are enabling some of that grooming to take place. I close by saying that I wholeheartedly agree with the motion. I do believe that the collective efforts of the parties and the individuals here who spoke eloquently and believed with all their heart that this has to change for women and girls in our country, we must make sure that we use this Parliament to make an absolute fundamental change to those figures to stop women being violated and girls being abused. Thank you Ms McNeill and now Colin Jim Fairlie will be followed by Stephen Kerr again four minutes please Mr Fairlie. I'd like to congratulate my colleague Paul McClellan on securing today's debate and I happily support his continued efforts in raising the awareness of the issue despite it continuing to blight our society. Too little focus or attention is giving to the changing the culture which allows it to continue unabated. Two weeks ago I spoke in the Government's debate on international day for elimination of violence against women and girls and I emphasised the role we men must play in changing the culture and as I usually do I shared that speech as widely as I could on social media. We all use these platforms to convey all sorts of messages and this chamber is exactly the place to raise those messages. For example I have posted in the past my dismay at photographs of boxes or eggs that have displayed a union jacking them rather than assault her in defence of a Scottish brand. My social media account explodes. A switch off the sound notifications because it literally doesn't stop for days on end. The outrage and sheer fury from the grossly offended are palpable and can set off a chain sideshow of explosions that continue in my notifications for sometimes for weeks and yet I post a speech about the savagery of male violence against women and girls about sexual assault, rape and murder and how we males must take a stand on behalf of women and girls and ask how we help to change things and what is the response muted at best. Where was the anger? Where was the outrage? Where was the explosion of fury of support for women and girls and condemnation of male violence perpetrated against them? Sadly and even more predictably the outrage and fury didn't materialise. Social media can be a powerful tool that is awareness to start the debate and to engage with people whose opinions often differ overall with their own and as long as we are able to hold that space for those debates to happen with fairness, with fairness and without vitriol as I often see we should continue to engage in all political matters online but especially this one. Now I know that this discussion is painful and uncomfortable for men. There's a fear that by sticking your head above the parapet you might draw attention to yourself and someone somewhere reminds you about a time when you may have been that guy. So better not to be reminded or risk the embarrassment. But if we all admit that at one point or another most males will have done something that would now give us pause and forced us to accept that difficult and uncomfortable memory and a version of ourselves that when we know that we was definitely were that guy and if we all admit it together into ourselves it will become easier to identify it in the next generation of boys and men and stop it at its root. Part of this is the growing up process in a patriarchal system which not only doesn't condemn this behaviour it actively encourages it in all the ways that I spoke about two weeks ago. Most of us growing up with these behaviours and we can chalk it up to experience to growing up or whatever we want to call it but some men never go up. Let's not forget that even if we do grow or learn at whose expense does it come because when men are doing all that growing up and learning it's women they are trying those behaviours out on and it's women who are learning that they need to protect themselves and cannot know which of these boys will grow out of it and for them who's it going to escalate it from. There's a real issue that needs to be addressed about ignoring male violence against women and girls and there's something that others do and therefore isn't our problem unless of course it happens to be one of ours, one of our own or it happens to be someone that the media deem worthy of wall to wall coverage and as I said this conversation should make us all feel at least a little bit uncomfortable. If we're going to be honest and be honest with ourselves we all know exactly what I'm talking about we learn the boundaries we know what flirting is we know what a compliment is we know when the interaction is accepted and reciprocated it is actually really obvious to all of us but we also know what no means we know when our embarrassment leads to aggression or inappropriate continuation of advances and we also all know someone in our group as we grew up who might just have been capable of going that bit further than they should have and we say nothing about it because that's not what guys do. There's a difficult debate for us to have as men and I know that and there's no doubt about it but by avoiding it we enable society to continue to be muted at the misogyny, sexism, objectification, violence and sexual assault, rape and murder of far too many young women and girls every year. I believe that we can and we must do more to change it. We can change the culture by example by crossing the road and give women space. We remain respectful in every setting. We use appropriate language. We take that eight seconds of discomfort and calling it out which is made all the easier by the phrase don't be that guy. We teach our sons what is acceptable, what is unacceptable and how not to cross the line and as importantly we teach our daughters not to accept that line being crossed. I firmly believe that huge impacts can be made when small changes are made by the many and I call on everyone to be that bit more mindful to recognise those behaviours. We know when we cross the line and create a different culture to bring up the next generation of boys to men. I congratulate Paul MacLennan for bringing forward this important motion. I thank all those who supported him to enable it and I also thank him on his excellent speech that he gave in opening debate. Gender-based violence is a stain on our society. Our streets should be safe, places for everyone but for far too many women and girls we know that they are not safe and we only have to look back on the horrific crime that took place in London on 4 March this year when, while walking a home, Sarah Everard was kidnapped in the street, was driven away to be raped, strangled and murdered. That this murder was perpetrated by a police officer is truly shocking. It was his duty to protect people and make the streets safe. He abused his position to murder an innocent woman. We have a long way to go. Women should feel safe in their homes, they should feel safe in the streets and they should feel safe when they are going about their daily business. I remember just a few years ago talking to a group of young women who came to see me to tell me about their experience of this issue. They told me frankly a terrible story of the lack of respect and the casual harassment that they and their peers had to put up with on a daily basis. They were subject to leering, groping, intimidation and sleazy behaviour by some of the young men around them. When one person can treat another person in a derogatory way, when they show so little respect to make another person feel objectified or intimidated, we are all made smaller. This casual objectification leads to escalating levels of disrespect. One small aggressive statement, one casual unwanted touch, is the first step in a path that can lead to something far worse and far more serious. We cannot disregard such issues. We have a long way to go. Early this year, the UK Parliament passed the Domestic Abuse Act into law. The act will transform the support of ill-to-women right across our society. It will also ensure that perpetrators feel the full force of the law. That is a step in the right direction. Inadvernally but entirely predictably, the steps taken to avoid Covid have exacerbated the issue that we are addressing. Across the world, Governments responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by initiating lockdowns to slow down the spread of the virus. One side effect of the policy was that it made it even more difficult for vulnerable women to get away from an abusive partner. Between April and June 2020, there was a 65 per cent increase in calls to the national domestic abuse help line when compared to the first three months of that year. Karen Ingala-Smith, who runs the Counting Dead Women project, estimated that, during the first three weeks of the first lockdown, there had been 16 domestic abuse killings of men and women in the UK, the highest for at least 11 years. We have a long way to go. The escalation of violence towards women during Covid-19 can also be seen overseas. Dame Vera Bair, the victims commissioner for England and Wales, said that China saw a doubling of domestic abuse during the height of the pandemic, with cases rising all over the world. The UN Secretary General has described a horrifying global surge in domestic violence. As legislators, we must be constantly vigilant as to how the law can be used and kept up to date to reduce violence against women. As leaders, we must set an example. I am glad to see so many men over the course of the three debates that we have had stand up in this place and commit to work to eliminate violence against women and girls. I thank Paul McLeanon for the initiative that he announced in his speech at the start of the debate. It is true that we have a long way to go, but I see hope. I can see that much more needs to be done. As a nation, as a country, as a human race, we must look into our hearts and establish the true cause of violence. The legal abolition of violence must be accompanied by the abolition of toxic and hateful environments and the acceptance of compassion and respect. We have a long way to go, but I have faith in the goodness of humanity to get to the place where everyone, all women and girls, feels safe, respected and valued in our society. Can I thank Paul McLeanon for securing this additional debate, allowing us once again to raise this important issue on the week of international human rights day and to mark the 30th anniversary of the 16 days of activism? I share the sentiment expressed here today and want to add to other members' voices. Violence against women is not only sadly still a major concern in 2021, but it appears to be getting worse in Scotland and around the world. If anyone imagines that it has become a thing of the past, then they are sorely mistaken. As a new member offered the opportunity to contribute to the debate, I see that Paul McLeanon has become a champion on this issue, calling me to take the responsibility in society seriously. I thank him for raising the number of men in attendance in the chamber, and I thank him for that and for the call to action in reminding all male MSPs to join the debate tonight and in other debates. I really reflected on the fact that the motion marks 30 years of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Although that work is to be commended as absolutely essential, it should spur us on in the chamber to realise that we have a responsibility to work hard to make decisions to focus on action not rhetoric and to ensure that we do not have to make the same remarks in years to come. The motion quite rightly seeks to acknowledge and praise services devoted to supporting and eliminating violence against women. It is genuinely sad, however, that the campaign for 16 days of action is in its 30th year, and yet we know that violence continues and accountability is severely lacking. When I made my first speech at the start of the 16 days of violence against women, we knew that at least 126 women had been killed by men, and a man is the principal suspect in their death in the UK. Since then, we know of other women subjected to violence and those who have sadly lost their lives. How can we look at those numbers and think that there is not a serious problem in our society with the way men view and treat women? Whether it is domestic violence, sexual harassment or indeed rampant misogyny, women continue to be the target of far too many men's terrible behaviours and aggression. If we cannot understand how serious that is today and address it at the root cause, then we do not deserve to be standing here in this chamber. Across the many debates in this Parliament, members across the chamber have raised many important issues. So many vital changes we need in our society, from calling out language and misogyny or changes to the justice system. However, I have often wondered if many men were saying that they had fallen victim, would the statistics be the same? My previous contribution focused on the establishment of institutions that at times feel that they are above the issue, and I want to mention that again. Each woman who is the victim of violence must be treated equally and fairly by an establishment that understands or at least seeks to begin to understand what they have gone through. That begins with accepting that this is a serious problem that we do not have under control. It means more direct engagement with grassroots organisations, health and recovery charities and for institutions to actually open their eyes and ears to what is going on. Finally, we need to think about the sort of attitudes we are exposing young men to which encourage a culture of entitlement instead of one of respect. If we can approach this problem as both a societal issue, which is absolutely mixed in with the way men think it is acceptable to behave, we can begin to tackle it until then it will just be more about talk and not taking seriously enough. If we want to make a change, we have to actually do something about it, and I thank all the members for coming to this important debate. I thank Paul MacLennan for securing this debate this evening. I have been swithering over whether to speak in this debate or not, but here I am, and I am here because I can be. I have a voice and I can use it. Not all women have that privilege, so I have a responsibility to use my voice in the on-going fight for gender equality, even though it is often an exhausting, frustrating, demoralising fight. We know that gender-based violence is a cause and a consequence of gender inequality. We also know that there is nothing inevitable about this. We still live in a deeply patriarchal world, but I am not going to rehearse the arguments for equality here or talk about the policies that we need to achieve it. I am not going to repeat the statistics of either inequality or its impact on society, though they are harrowing, life-changing, life-ending. I am not even going to relay examples of the trauma experienced by women. What I want to use my voice for this evening is to challenge each and every man in this chamber to up his game. In Paul MacLennan's email about this evening, he specifically asked men MSPs to be here. On 25 November, we had a debate on violence against women and girls. On 30 November, we had a debate about justice and the 16 days of activism. Over the course of those two debates, eight men spoke, four in each one, 23 women spoke. In the justice debate, there were three interventions all by men, two intervening on women. Why do those numbers matter? I think that they are telling that in a Parliament that is just under 35 per cent women, 75 per cent of speakers in those debates were women. On the face of it, that is not surprising. Women face the consequences of gender inequality every day. Women have lived experience of it. Of course, we can expect women to have lots to say about it, and it is right that we listen to women. However, only eight of 84 men thought that they should contribute to those important debates speaks volumes too, because it is you, men, who are the perpetrators of the vast, vast majority of violence against women. I challenge all the men in this Parliament to look critically at your behaviour. You have a responsibility in this. A responsibility to call out sexist behaviour and language whenever you encounter it, including in your own heads, 365 days a year. A responsibility to consider your behaviour in this place of work, in your social, private and intimate settings, but, importantly, in this chamber too, because even in this chamber, gender inequality is obvious and it is damaging. I have in those recent debates paid tribute to the organisations and individuals who work to support survivors, who raise awareness about gender inequality, who put their bodies on the line every day to do this work. This evening, I want to close by paying tribute to one of those organisations and all those who turned out to support them last night. Rathak, Dundee and Angus, the women's rape and sexual abuse centre, held an event in the cold and dark on Dundee's waterfront. Their keys to a safer future event saw people gather together to write messages mostly of hope on a tag and tie it with a key to the waterfront fencing. Many women, probably many of us in this building, have carried keys or similar in our fists as defence against the fear and intimidation that we face on a daily and nightly basis. The event in Dundee was a bold statement of intent to reject the fear, the intimidation that for so long has kept women afraid, has prevented them from walking alone. I was not able to be there, but I want to close with the words written on one of those tags, one of those keys to a safer future. May my granddaughter wrap herself in the velvet darkness and lose her gaze in the stars without fearing the shadow at her shoulder? Thank you very much indeed, Ms Chapman. Before calling the next speaker, I'm conscious of how many members want to contribute to the debate. I'm minded to accept the motion without notice to extend the debate by up to half an hour under rule 8.14.3. I would call on Paul MacLennan to move such a motion without notice. The question is now that the debate will be extended by up to 30 minutes. Are we all agreed? Excellent, that is agreed. I call the next speaker, which is Emma Harper, to be followed by Paula Kane for up to four minutes, Ms Harper. I welcome the opportunity to speak in this 16 days of activism against gender-based violence debate and congratulate my colleague Paul MacLennan on securing it. The theme this year is calling for awareness, action and accountability all year round, with a focus on the importance of all men taking action to prevent violence against women and girls. Jim Fairlie has described that really well in his contribution. I add my thanks to the work of organisations tackling gender-based violence, including Zero Tolerance, Scottish Women's Aid, Wigtonshire and Dumfries Women's Aid, Rape Crisis and White Rib in Scotland. The recollection of women who have experienced violence and abuse is not easy to hear. Audrey Nicholl has stated in her comments that the resilience of women who have been survivors should be commended. There is no place for harassment or abuse in any form, whether in the home, in schools, in the workplace or in wider society. Violence against women and girls and, indeed, LGBT plus and other groups is unacceptable and international awareness raising activities such as debates like that are crucial to raising the profile of gender-based violence and to tackle its causes. The group UN Women has called violence against women during the Covid-19 pandemic, the shadow pandemic. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, emerging data and reports have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified and that shadow pandemic needs a global collective effort to stop it. Please check out the shadow pandemic campaign on the UN Women website. One of the best ways to tackle gender-based violence is by education. I welcome the Scottish Government's determination to ensure that children and young people are receiving high-quality relationship, sexual health and parenthood education in schools. Campaigns such as Police Scotland do not be that guy are crucial educational resources, as they encourage frank conversations with men about gender-based violence and negative stereotypes. The Scottish Government has a number of policies to deal with violence against women and girls and to advance gender equality both here and abroad. Whether here in Scotland or around the world, violence against women is a fundamental violation of human rights and this is human rights day. The Scottish Government is investigating and investing in front-line services and has brought forward new legislation to tackle gender-based violence and discrimination. Scotland rightly aims to set an international example of good practice in gender equality and in its eradication of gender-based violence and create a world where women and girls are safe to achieve their goals. In Scotland, we are seeing the implementation of the equally safe strategy, which is Scotland's strategy to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. As well as the strategy, it rightly deals with the issues of gender-based violence here in Scotland. It has commitment to preventing international discrimination against women. Members may recall that last January, I brought a debate forward on UN on the United Nations Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. It was unanimously passed by the UN Security Council over 20 years ago by the resolution 1325. It was the first of its kind with the aim to specifically address the impact of war on women and the value of women as conflict resolvers. At the heart of the equally safe strategy, it is the principle that all women and girls, regardless of background, race, religion, sexual orientation or age, should feel safe in their communities and should be without fear of violence or abuse. Internationally, Scotland working in partnership with the UN has pledged practical and financial support for women and girls to achieve this goal and to learn peace building and conflict resolution skills. In the programme supported by the Scottish Government, it consists of talks, seminars and lessons. Women and girls have access to international experts, female role models and positions of power. Women and girls have the opportunity to learn from each other about the fundamentals of peacekeeping. Actions like this should be commended. Actions like this contribute to strengthening and empowering women and girls. The steps that we are taking in Scotland, such as equal safe, equal representation on public boards and gender balance cabinet, a commitment to a wellbeing economy and to educate women and girls to tackle gender-based violence are also welcome. It is important that the Scottish Government will introduce legislation to protect the anonymity of complainers of sexual crimes under Scots law. I welcome that serious consideration will be given to introduce special courts and to allow victims to pre-record their evidence in closing. I welcome that debate and I join calls for men to call out gender-based violence and I welcome Scotland's outward looking approach to tackling gender-based violence. I thank all the members here for the valuable contributions that we have heard so far in this debate. It is an honour for me to follow my colleagues Paula McNeill and Carol Mawkin. Indeed, I thank members for their work in raising awareness of gender-based violence, but particularly Paula McLeanon, for bringing this vitally important debate to Parliament this evening and for his encouragement of men and male MSPs to participate in this debate and show our willingness to lead by example and take action. What we have heard already is shocking about the murders of women and girls. There are circumstances that have been articulated particularly powerfully by colleagues. That day-to-day experience of violence and the fear of violence is harrowing and should shock all of us. I want to pay tribute tonight to the work that is done by so many organisations, such as Women's Aid and Rape Prices Scotland that we have heard already, to take action and to support women and girls year on year. We know that as we gather tonight to again mark another 16 days of activism, we have seen again instances of domestic violence and abuse go up, and that is a pattern that increases year on year. It should be abundantly clear to all of us that there is so much more that needs to be done, because women and girls should not have to go about their day-to-day lives in fear of what may happen to them. They should not have to change their behaviour. Our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, cousins and friends should not have to think about their route home, where they run or where they go for a night out. We can do more, and we must do more. Men can do more and must do more. As we know, we are marking the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, and the campaign is so important because it helps to shine a spotlight on what can be done to begin to stop horrific violence that happens in our communities. I am reflecting this evening that, as we mark 30 years, I was three years old when the campaign around those 16 days began. I was struck by the contribution of Pauline McNeill in this regard that, for all of my time growing up and at school, I was not aware of the 16 days of activism. I was not aware of the need for men and teenage boys at school to take account of their actions to think about their attitudes. I think that there was very little in the way of education, involvement and helping young men particularly to think about their role in all of that. I think that Pauline McNeill articulated very clearly that we must do more in our schools to have young men particularly thinking reflect upon their behaviours. I think that the Police Scotland campaign is a start in that regard, to make young men particularly think about not being that guy and what they do and what they say. I want to highlight, if I can, in my time remaining the work of the White Ribbon campaign in Scotland. I had the great honour of getting to know that campaign well through my work at COSLA, as I am sure Paul MacLennan did also. That campaign seeks to ask men to make a pledge to call out inappropriate behaviour when they hear it and when they see it, and to be very clear that they will never walk on by when they see that behaviour. They will not condone violence against women or excuse it as just a joke or just par for the course. The reality is that that pledge is a starting point. It will never be an end in itself, but it is about all men in Scotland being able to take that pledge to make a contribution and to say that in my own sphere of influence, whether that be in my workplace, whether it be in my home or whether it be in the pub or where I socialise, I have a duty to call out those around me and to ensure that I can take action so that we can begin to make it clear that violence against women and girls is never acceptable and that we all have a role in making sure that we put an end to it. I thank Paul MacLennan for highlighting activism against gender-based violence. To mark the start of the 16 days of activism on 25 November, hundreds gathered in Dundee at a march to reclaim the night. I want to pay tribute to the Women's Rapin Sexual Abuse Centre, in particular for leading at this event and to all the other groups involved in making the march and other events of success. I want to thank them not just for their contribution to the march, but also for the work that they do every day of the year. Those include Dundee violence against women's partnership, Dundee International Women's Centre, Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, the university societies and local secondary schools across Dundee. I would also like to pay tribute to the V&A Dundee Police Scotland, Dundee City Churches, the Hot Chocolate Trust, Dundee City Council, Leisure and Culture Dundee, Dundee Contemporary Arts and the University of Dundee for hosting workshops and lighting the prominent buildings in our city to mark this occasion. I also thank all those across Dundee and elsewhere in Scotland and around the world who let candles, torches and lights to make sure that this day was properly remembered and recognised. Over the 16 days as well as the march, there have been on-going arts and craft classes and musical events all over Dundee. I know that that has been replicated across Scotland and indeed around the world. The buzz created by these events has been immense. However, it is crucial to remember why this 16-day event is required. Although all that incredible work has been on-going, I have been contacted by constituents who have reported women being spiked by injection in licensed premises in Dundee. There have been newspaper reports of further cases and I know that Police Scotland are investigating several complaints. Members across the chamber will no doubt have received similar correspondence. We know from work published by the United Nations that one in three women worldwide, an estimated 736 million have experienced physical or sexual violence and we know the consequences of such violence often has devastating effects on those women. We know that 15 million adolescent girls worldwide aged 15 to 19 have experienced forced sex. We know that an average of 137 women are killed by a member of their own family every day. We know that fewer than 40 per cent of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort and we know that violence against women disproportionately impacts on lower income areas. Those are just some of the horrifying numbers reported by the United Nations. They make hugely uncomfortable reading, particularly for the men in the chamber and in society. However, behind every single one of those statistics is a woman and we must endeavour to remember that and to make a difference. Although it may be the case that not all men commit violence against women, it is incumbent on all of us, as has been said by many members in the chamber, every single one of us to call out to help to end it. I would like to conclude by joining Paul O'Kane and colleagues across the chamber in making the White Ribbon Scotland pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about men's violence against women in all of its forms. I echo that pledge too and now call the final speaker in the open debate, Neil Bibby, again around four minutes, Mr Bibby. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I applaud all the work that has been done as part of the 16 days of action against gender-based violence from the international level down to local councils and organisations in my west Scotland region who have chosen to establish their own 16-day initiatives, and I applaud Paul McLean for this important motion and debate. It is a truly shocking state of affairs, however, that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the global 16 days campaign and that the campaign is apparently needed now more than ever. The Pauling and sickening murder of Sarah Everard in March this year was a reminder, as if one were needed, that women cannot feel safe on our streets. Like other members, I urge every man listening to think about that, Presiding Officer, to really think about that and what it must feel like to feel vulnerable to physical violence and sexual attack from the moment you leave a home or a workplace and enter a street or any public place. For most men, this is not something we have to think about, if ever, but for women it is automatic every day all the time. Just from speaking to women in my own family or in my own office, they have spoken of the daily precautions they take to avoid the threat of male violence. Walking even on a busy street in daylight close to the road edge of a payment in order to avoid alloys and doorways, carrying their keys between their fingers in case they need an improvised weapon without notice. Of course, not just walking home, just not travelling on public transport, just not going out at all because of all the worries and logistics that it entails. If men had to live like this, I suspect that the problem would have been dealt with a very long time ago, but most of us do not. We really have to think or worry about it. World Presiding Officer, we should think about it and we should talk about it, as Jim Fairlie said, and we should have the political will to do something about it, as Pauline McNeill and Carol Mlockin said. We should try to imagine what it feels like to live like that day in and day out. It is an outrage that anyone should have to never mind half of the human population. What is more, Presiding Officer, is that many women are not, of course, safe from violent men, even in their own homes. According to figures referenced by Russell Finlay, a woman is killed by a man in the UK every three days. Most which women die at the hands of domestic partners, many suffer long-term abuse prior to the deaths at the hands of those men. As Stephen Cair said, the Covid pandemic has made matters worse for those for whom home is anything but a sanctuary. UN research has found that, since the pandemic, women on a global scale feel significantly less safe and less secure. That is because of male violence, Presiding Officer. Of course, as Jo FitzPatrick said, not all men are violent predators, but we must take collective responsibility for our collective behaviour as a sex. As the motion states, all men must take action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. We must appreciate that women and girls do not know who may be a threat or who may not. We must be sensitive about our own behaviour and speech and how it might be interpreted by others. I agree with Maggie Chapman and many other members who have said that we must call out and challenge unacceptable male behaviour whenever we see it. Clearly, there is a huge role for government, the police and public policy. I agree with Paul McLeanon that we need to see real change urgently, and certainly before we debate this next year. I commit to working with Mr McLean and all other members on this important issue. I also agree with Mr McLeanon and others that the onus is on men—all men—to recognise the reality of life for our daughters, wives, partners, friends and mothers. Men need to face the fact that women live every day with the spectre of male violence. That should sicken us and call us to act. I call on Ben Macpherson to respond to the debate, minister, around seven minutes, please. Like colleagues, first of all, I congratulate Paul McLeanon on securing this debate, and all members who supported his motion. I also want to pay tribute to all members who have contributed to our debate this evening and this important discussion, and also to the debates that we had on 25 November and 30 November. It was with profound sadness that I begin by sending my thoughts and condolences to the family of Amber Gibson at this extremely difficult time. I understand that Police Scotland is treating Amber's tragic death as murder. Her name tragically, shockingly and sickeningly joins those of Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard, Nicole Smallman and Beva Henry, and far too many other women and girls who have been sensuously and heinuously killed in our country and around the world. The Scottish Government agrees with what all colleagues have said today, and that is that gender-based violence is a function of gender inequality. It is an abuse of male power and privilege. As others have emphasised, the common denominator is men, as Russell Finlay rightly stated. It takes the form of actions that result in physical and psychological harm or suffering to women and children and is in the front to their human dignity. That is why the Scottish Government is already taking forward a large amount of actions and work to support victims of gender-based violence and address the misogynistic attitudes that perpetuate such violence. For example, we established an independent working group, chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, to specifically look at misogyny in Scotland and explore whether there should be a stand-alone offence to tackle misogynistic conduct. The working group has concluded its evidence gathering and have confirmed that the report on its findings and recommendations will be published in February next year. The Domestic Abuse Protection Scotland Act 2021, when it comes into effect, will provide new powers for the police in courts to make emergency orders designed to protect people who are at risk of domestic abuse from someone they are living with. The Domestic Abuse Scotland Act 2018 has also made a meaningful difference as a gold standard piece of legislation in strengthening the law and gives police greater opportunities and powers to tackle this insidious crime. Very early data shows an encouraging 84 per cent confectionary, although it is very early data. However, we need to consider how we do more in the criminal justice space as well as elsewhere in Government policy. On behalf of ministers, I accept Paul McClellan's request for a meeting. If he follows up in correspondence, we will decide which ministers should be most engaged in that and thank him for that constructive proposal. Pauline McNeill I commend the minister a number of excellent speeches he has made on the subject and the work that the Scottish Government is doing. Twice in the chamber, I have raised the question of what has been happening in some schools in England where girls have been subjected to unsolicited graphic images. Boys 2, to some extent—I think that Paul O'Kane raised his point really well—there is an issue. We do not really know what is going on in schools. If that is something that the Scottish Government has thought about addressing as I find out what is going on, perhaps the gender stereotyping of boys and what the expectation of boys is is a factor in all of this and to make that direct connection. In some ways, I might think that it might be worse for young people now than it was in my day. I wonder if the minister would agree that we need to explore in this Parliament. I can give you the time back. I think that Pauline McNeill raised really important points that I was going to come to an extent later on, but I think that in answer to her question that as part of Mr McClellan's work, we need to consider the educational environment as part of that and look purposefully at the analysis that has been done about the attitudes of young men growing up in Scotland at the moment and what we can do to change those attitudes more positively where that is required. I should say that there have been so many good speeches and points made in this debate. I will not manage to address them all, but I will try as much as possible in the time remaining. As I talked about legislation, as an important tool in making a positive contribution to tackling gender-based violence, it is also important that our support for organisations working to support victims and survivors and discourage gender-based violence. Over the past 18 months, the Scottish Government invested an additional £10 million to allow rapid redesign of services and address backlogs supporting organisations such as Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland. As part of our £100 million three-year commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, we have also created a new deliver an equally safe fund and have recently confirmed allocations to 121 projects from 112 organisations working to provide key services and prevent gender-based violence. We also opened a new victim-centred approach fund in October to support victims of crime worth at least £30 million over the next three years. Of course, in all policy areas, gender equality is a focus of the Government, and I think that Audrey Nicol made this point very well. Certainly, in my responsibilities for Scotland's new social security system, that is quite rightly a point of considerable emphasis and a meet with organisations that are involved in gender on a regular basis. However, in the time remaining, Presiding Officer, I want to focus on the key points that are in Mr McClellan's motion and that many other speakers touched on, which are about how, as a society, we need to do more across the board, but also how, together in individuals, we can do more, particularly as men, to address this issue, to change culture and social attitudes. Some men are more to blame than perpetrators, but we have a collective responsibility, as Jim Fairlie emphasised, across all ages, to do more. Gender-based violence is a manifestation of toxic masculinity, the commodification of women, porn culture and the moral set of attitudes that includes a sense of sexual entitlement in the minds of too many men in our society and around the world. It is men who have created this imbalance in our society, so men have a duty to lead the change that we need to see. Men need to look in the mirror and do so critically, as Maggie Chapman emphasised, to address those issues. It is vital that we bring forward change that is societal, behavioural, cultural and systematic. We need that change in workplaces, in nightclubs, in bars and in all other settings, including, of course, in the streets. The Police Scotland new campaign, Don't Be That Guy, encapsulates how gender-based violence is not simply made up of the most severe crimes that come to mind, but it can be a process of escalation that Stephen Kerr rightly spoke about. However, it is not enough to just say that we are not that guy. We also have to change our collective behaviour and to call out men who are around us in their behaviour, because men that own us are on us to modify our collective behaviour and to do so in a way that is sensitive to the situation that women around us face. That is why I support campaigns such as White Ribbon and Heath or She, which promote the positive and active steps that men and boys can take to challenge violence against women and girls in misogyny when they see it. I encourage all men to make that commitment to doing more. My message is to men and boys that we need to do more. We need to be that guy who does more to tackle and prevent violence against women and girls collectively. We need to be that guy who calls out his mates when he hears or sees sexism, misogyny, abuse or harassment. We need to be that guy who modifies his behaviour to make women feel safer, like crossing the road, for example, as was said by one of our speakers today. We need to be that guy who plays a part in bringing about the change in culture that we need to see. From today, there is a collective call to action for Government to do more, for society to do more, for individual vigils to do more and for us collectively to do more. I think that Paul McClellan rightly asked us as MSPs to do more. As well as in my ministerial capacity and other ministers, we will look at that as part of the work that will come out of those 16 days, what more can be done across Government. As MSPs, when we go and speak to schools, when we go and speak to sports clubs, we should be thinking about how we create greater awareness of the fact that men need to take responsibility. The momentum that we have seen over the course of the 16 days of activism so far has been important, but we must not relent after 10 December. We need to move forward and do more and remain united in our condemnation of violence against women and girls in all its forms in Scotland and around the world and recommit to doing all that we can to tackling it and in time ending it as soon as possible.