On the same day, 5 December, the Rape Crisis Scotland and Engender discussed whether implementing the Istanbul Convention is a useful lobbying goal for the women’s sector in Scotland. This short discussion event provided an opportunity for women’s organisations to be briefed on the Istanbul Convention and possibilities for its use as a lobbying tool in Scotland, and to discuss possibilities for individual, organizational, or joint activism around it. During the discussion, it was highlighted that the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul Convention) is a concrete tool for change to eradicate all forms of male violence against women, specifically rape.
On the 4th and the 5th of December, the Rape Crisis Scotland published a range of new self-care resources for survivors. These are twelve new leaflets offer information, tips and links on Self-harm, Dissociation, Sexual health, Flashbacks, Suicidal thoughts & feelings, Anger, Healing from sexual violence, Trauma, Nightmares & sleep problems, Panic attacks, Relationships, and Coping after sexual violence.
