Impact

The impact of VAWG on victims and wider society is considerable. The Femicide Census 2020 report states that men’s violence against women is a leading cause of the premature death for women globally, while the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2021 study on The lasting impact of violence against women and girls states that this violence can lead to significant and long-lasting impacts for survivors, such as mental health issues, suicide attempts and homelessness.

The ONS study also recognises that these experiences are sometimes hidden and are not limited to physical violence, including abusive treatment such as coercive and controlling behaviour or exploitation. Violence against women and girls can have profound long-term effects on both survivors and the people close to them.

The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) 2021-22 shows that, in wider society, females continue to feel less safe than men. In the 2021-22 survey 63% of females said they felt safe walking alone after dark in their local area, and 94% felt safe alone in their home at night. The equivalent figures for males were 90% and 98%. These levels show no real change since the 2019-20 survey.

The survey asked respondents the extent to which they were worried about being the victim of specific types of crime. 21% of females were worried about being physically assaulted or attacked in a public place, compared to 12% of males. 21% of females were worried they would be sexually assaulted compared to just 3% of males.

Any respondent who stated they were worried about being the victim of a crime were then asked to what extent their worry prevented them from doing things that they would otherwise want to do. 64% of males said not at all, compared to 49% of females.