Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus hosted the opening seminar for 2017’s ‘16 Days of Action’ campaign to raise awareness of violence against women.
Prevention Through Education - was the title of the event held on Friday 24 November in the Tower Suite. It featured keynote speakers Kathryn Dawson from Rape Crisis Scotland whose talk focussed on ‘Taking a Whole Schools Approach to preventing gender based violence and the importance of young people’s participation’, Fiona McNicol who spoke about a new young person’s project to challenge gender stereotyping in the media, Loraine Williams Prevention Worker with Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre, who discussed ‘Sexual Violence Prevention in Forth Valley’ and Rebecca Dawson and Chris Murphy from CEA, who gave a presentation on ‘Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse in HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont’.
Those attending included representatives from: Police Scotland, NHS Forth Valley, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Prison Service, Clackmannanshire Council, Stirling Council and a range of third sector services.
Gail Cook, Coordinator for Clackmannanshire Violence Against Women Partnership, said: “The 16 Days of Action is an international campaign aimed at raising awareness of violence against women issues and is supported annually in the Forth Valley area.
“The Scottish Government has a vision of a strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse and the attitudes that help perpetuate it. This vision is mirrored in Forth Valley, with prevention work a priority for local violence against women and gender based violence partnerships.
“Our free opening event explored the importance of prioritising prevention work and the benefits it can bring to our communities.”
The photo shows (from left to right) Loraine Williams (Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre), Sarah Dilalavanug (pupil), Kathryn Dawson (Rape Crisis Scotland), Rebecca Dawson (CEA / HMP YOI Polmont), Gail Cook (Front) (Coordinator for Clackmannanshire Violence Against Women Partnership), Chris Murphy (CEA) and Cherie-Ann Jarvie (Clackmannanshire Council / Chair of Clackmannanshire Violence Against Women Partnership).