16 Days of Action 2024 - Programme

The D&G 16 Days Social Media Campaign Starts Today!

Follow the campaign!   Help us raise awareness by sharing and re-tweeting!  

@DumfriesGallowayCouncil     @dgcouncil         #LightUp     

Use  #imagine to share you messages and videos 

#LightUp

The Council HQ on English St. will be lit-up green, white, purple, and orange to mark the 16 Days Campaign. 

Shine a light on Nov 25th and help raise awareness of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls!

To share your pictures, comments, and actions please use: #LightUp    #imagine    

D&G Council HQ, English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DD          

16 Days Event: Imagine D&G without Violence Against Women and Girls

This event to be held in the Auditorium (G59) at the Bridge, Dumfries will focus on various aspects and approaches to gender based violence prevention such as:

Strangulation in Domestic Abuse and in sexual/dating contexts; Prevention Work in Schools - Equally Safe at School; Impact of Domestic Abuse on Children - featuring the short film Nurture or Nature with an input from Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Women's Aid and Students from Moffatt Academy.

This event will include an input from IFAS - Institute for Addressing Strangulation and the launch of the D&G Strangulation/Choking Awareness Campaign.

This event will be of interest to: Social Workers, Family Support Workers, Police, Youth Workers, as well as Education,Health, and Sexual Health Staff. 

13:00 - 16:00

In-person.

Room G59 - The Bridge: Glasgow Road, Dumfries, DG2 9AW              

Click HERE to book your place.

Webinar:

D&G White Ribbon Campaign Overview and Progress

This event will include an input by Police Sup. Jim McMillan and Dumfries Prison Governor Andrew Hunstone - Chair and Vice-Chair of the D&G White Ribbon Steering Group 

Their input will cover:

1. Violence Against Women + International, National and Local Stats.
2. An overview of the WR Campaign: origin, world presence, and WR Scotland.
3. Main WR Campaign Activities
4. The Ambassador, Champion, and Speaker roles.
5. Our focus on primary prevention (and what that means)  
6. Current position and Progress
7. Opportunity to ask questions

09:00 - 10:00

Click HERE to book your place.

Webinar:

Domestic Homicides Reviews

This webinar will provide an overview of the development of Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Speakers - Vicky Carmichael - VAWG Justice Division SG

Prof John Devaney - Edinburgh University 

In December 2022, the Scottish Government established a taskforce to provide national leadership for the development and implementation of a multi-agency domestic homicide and suicide review model for Scotland. 

The commitment to developing a review model is set out within the Equally Safe Delivery Plan. This commitment is also a key priority within the Programme for Government 2023-2024. 

The domestic homicide and suicide review model aims to learn lessons following a death where abuse is suspected and to ensure a voice is given to those who have died and their family.

Whilst recognising that the majority of domestic homicides are carried out by men against women, the model developed will be an inclusive one, which includes victims of all genders.

Approaches taken in other jurisdictions will also be examined as well as the existing review processes in Scotland. This includes children and adult support and protection learning reviews. Together this will help develop a Scotland-specific system. 

The Scottish model will be built on a set of core principles. These are: 

• person-centred - respecting an individual's needs and values, treating them fairly, communicating with them clearly and recognising that they are the experts in their own lives  
• trauma-informed - recognising the impact that trauma can have, making sure to minimise the risk of re-traumatisation and understanding that access to support promotes recovery
• transparent - operating in an open, honest, clear and comprehensive way
• inclusive - ensuring we are open to all, equal, fair and respectful. We recognise that domestic homicide is gendered and that the majority of domestic homicides are carried out by men against women. The model developed will include victims of all genders
• domestic abuse competent - understanding that abuse can take many forms, recognising the gendered nature of domestic abuse, understanding the impact on victims and children, the complexity of victims' needs, and understanding how to respond appropriately

Click HERE to book your place.

Webinar: Stalking

As part of the regional response to the national 16 days campaign and related activism against GBV, Police Scotland Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit have agreed to host a one-hour awareness session on stalking. This will be aimed at practitioners of public and third sector organisations who are members of the 4 regional VAWG partnerships within Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway.

Presenter: DI Renfrew
Detective Inspector Iain Renfrew is based within Police Scotland's Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit. The Unit is key to Police Scotland's strategic direction and engages heavily with internal and external partners.

The DACU is responsible for ensuring Police Scotland is fully sighted on all local and national Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Honour Based Abuse and Stalking and Harassment related matters as well as researching and developing good practice across the organisation.

Iain has 23 years' Police service where he has worked in a variety of operational roles predominantly in Public Protection and Criminal Investigation departments. For 15 years Iain has specialised in the investigation of Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Honour Based Abuse and Stalking and Harassment.

His current role involves significant collaborative working with a variety of different communities, partners and stakeholders to support survivors and proactively target perpetrators.

Iain was pivotal in introducing the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse in Scotland (DSDAS) and maintains an operational overview of the ground breaking Domestic Abuse Legislation in Scotland that criminalises psychological domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.

For those wishing to expand their knowledge prior to this event, Iain featured in a recent "Action Against Stalking" Podcast which can be accessed through either scanning the QR code below, which provides direct access to Spotify, or by searching "Surviving Stalking Iain Renfrew" on Spotify, or other platforms.

13:00 - 14:00 

Click HERE to book your place.

Webinar:

Artificial Intelligence and Intimate Image Abuse with Kate Worthington-Revenge Porn Helpline

In this session led by Kate Worthington from the SWGfL Revenge Porn Helpline, the focus will be on the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in facilitating image-based abuse of adults. The discussion will explore how AI technologies, such as synthetic sexual content creation and automated image manipulation, have made it easier for perpetrators to create and distribute non-consensual intimate images. Kate will also highlight the challenges in tackling this emerging threat, the impact on adults affected, and the support mechanisms available through the Helpline, while emphasizing the importance of legal frameworks and digital safety practices in combating AI-driven image-based abuse.

Click HERE to book your place.

White Ribbon Speakers Development Day - The Bridge Glasgow Road, Dumfries DG2 9AW

This will be an opportunity for WR Speakers to meet with peers, share knowledge/experience, and reflect on wider issues relating to violence against women and girls prevention.

This event is also open to people who would like to become Speakers or would like to support the campaign in other ways.

For more information and to book your place, please email:

WhiteRibbon@dumgal.gov.uk

Webinar:

Challenges of Violence Against Women and Girls and Substance Use

Informal conversation café around domestic abuse/violence against women and substance use, looking at the links and some of the challenges women face and exploring what can help.

In partnership with We Are With You and Alcohol and Drugs Partnership

Click HERE to book your place.

Webinar:

D&G Commercial Sexual Exploitation Position Statement Launch

With an input by Linda Thomson - Women's Support Project

This event will be of interest to professionals / practitioners from a wide range of fields, such as: Social Work, Youth Work, Education, Health, Sexual Health, Employability, Job Centre, Housing/Homeless, Police, Specialist VAWG Organisations, Third Sector, and people involved in VAWG Prevention Work.

This event will cover our CSE Position Statement; the current strategic position on CSE - nationally and locally; issues relating to control, consent, disclosure, choice, and power in the CSE context; current training needs around CSE, and more!

Click HERE to book your place.

Webinar:

Domestic Abuse Case Study + Discussion lead by Police Scotland.

Click HERE to book your place.

Wigtownshire Women's Aid Conference:

Challenging Attitudes - Changing Lives

This  in-person event will focus on various aspects and approaches to gender-based violence prevention and awareness.

North West Castle - Stranraer

Click HERE to book your place.

Click HERE to access the 16 Days National Calendar of Events