Domestic abuse
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is pattern of persistent, controlling and coercive behaviour, where one person attempts to gain power and control over someone they are in a relationship with or have previously been in a relationship with.Abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological/emotional or financial.
1 in 5 women in Scotland will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives.
Most domestic abuse is perpetrated by men against women and children, but this is not always the case.
Our service is open to all women, including those who have experienced domestic abuse in same sex relationships and women who are transgender.
Domestic abuse is rooted in gender inequality and is part of a wider problem of male violence against women often referred to as Gender Based Violence.
Crimes such as rape and sexual assault, stalking and harassment, forced marriage, so called honour killings, female genital mutilation as well as domestic abuse and many other crimes are overwhelmingly experienced by women, perpetrated by men. These crimes often take place within a wider social context, engulfed in a global culture which normalises sexist and misogynistic attitudes and behaviours.
Gender Based Violence is a Human Rights Issue!
The Scottish Government describes domestic abuse as:
"Domestic abuse (as gender-based abuse), can be perpetrated by partners or ex partners and can include physical abuse (assault and physical attack involving a range of behaviour), sexual abuse (acts which degrade and humiliate women and are perpetrated against their will, including rape) and mental and emotional abuse (such as threats, verbal abuse, racial abuse, withholding money and other types of controlling behaviour such as isolation from family or friends)"
If you are experiencing domestic abuse it is not your fault, and you have the right to access services that will help you get to a safe place and begin to talk about and process what has happened. We will believe you, not judge you and allow you to take things at your own pace. We can support you in a variety of different ways including:
- Temporary refuge accommodation or support to access other safe housing
- Emotional and practical support
- Helping you get your point of view across to other services through advocacy
- Support for children and young people under the age of 18 who are affected by domestic abuse
