Tuesday – Wednesday 13-14 November 2007

City Chambers, Glasgow

Women workers from across Scotland will today (Tuesday 13 November) call for more action and funding to tackle domestic abuse and provide support for women and children experiencing abuse.

At least one in five women experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives. Since devolution, Scotland has led the way in developing strategies to address violence against women.

Speaking on the eve of Conference, Patricia McLaren, Chairperson of the 80th Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Women’s Conference said:

“Violence against women has absolutely devastating effects on women’s mental and physical health, their self esteem, their ability to go out to work everyday, and on family life. It is essential that the Scottish Government ensures continued funding for domestic abuse strategies, that support the victims, deal effectively with the perpetrators, and reinforce the zero tolerance message”.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Domestic abuse and violence against women, in any form, is deplorable and the Scottish Government takes a zero tolerance approach to it.

"Unfortunately, the reality for too many women is that they are subjected to physical or psychological violence and face fear and intimidation in their own homes. The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with trade unions and women's organisations to ensure we tackle the problem of violence against women, by bring it out from behind closed doors."

Conference will be addressed by:

Nicola Sturgeon MSP Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Elaine C Smith, Morag Alexander, Scotland Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Nel Whiting, Scottish Women’s Aid Phil McGarry, STUC President Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary.

A Special Session at 2pm on Tuesday 13 November 2007, will look back on women trade unionists contribution over the years, and look forward to the challenges still faced to take forward the gender agenda. This session will include contributions from the STUC Women’s Committee, the performance of “The World Turned Upside Down” by students of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and the Oran Mor Choir.

ENDS

Details of motions to be debated at Conference, along with a full Conference programme are available from the STUC Office. For further information, or to arrange attendance for press during the Conference contact: Kevin Buchanan STUC tel: 0141 337 8100 or Mary Senior, STUC tel: 0141 377 8100 For information regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing please contact: Scottish Government Communications Office tel: 0131 244 3092