Gender Based Violence (GBV) can impact anyone, regardless of background, race, beliefs and ability, from pre-birth through all stages of life. While women and children are most often affected, we also recognise that any individual, including men, can and do experience violence and abuse. Our approach across Falkirk aims to be inclusive and ensures anyone who experiences harm can access needed support and protection.

GBV violates human rights and can have severe, life-altering consequences and can pose a risk to life. It encompasses a wide spectrum of behaviours and actions that can cause physical, psychological, and emotional harm. Preventing and responding to GBV is vital to safeguarding health, wellbeing, dignity, and safety. GBV and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) includes:

• Rape and Sexual Assault
• Domestic abuse
• Childhood Sexual Abuse
• Child Exploitation
• Human Trafficking
• Sexual Harassment and Stalking
• Commercial Sexual Exploitation
• Prostitution
• Pornography

Harmful Traditional Practices including:

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• Forced Marriage
• “Honour”-based violence
• Dowry related violence

In Falkirk, we stand together as a community to say violence and abuse have no place here.

Every year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign (25th November to 10th December) unites people and organisations across the world to call for an end to all forms of gender-based harm. Ending gender-based violence takes all of us and we have a whole host of things happening where you can get involved!

These events are open to everyone - residents, community groups, schools, workplaces and organisations. By learning more, challenging harmful attitudes and standing alongside survivors, we can make Falkirk a place where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.

View our events and sign up on Eventbrite

Our Falkirk Gender-Based Violence Partnership Strategy 2025 – 2030 sets out our approach to tackling GBV.

Our priorities are to:

• Prevention: Addressing root causes by challenging harmful norms, promoting equality and intervening at the earliest opportunity to prevent harm.
• Support & Protection: Working to ensure people who experience harm can access the right services, that are trauma informed and person centred, at the right time.
• Tackling Perpetration: Encouraging people to stop GBV, deterring people from causing harm and influencing systems which hold perpetrators to account.
• Capacity Building: Equipping professionals with the skills and knowledge to take a trauma informed, human rights based approach. Improving multi-agency work and accountability. Proactively working to get services sufficiently and sustainably funded.

Together, we’re creating a coordinated response that makes Falkirk a place where everyone can live free from violence, abuse and discrimination.

If reading about GBV brings up difficult feelings, or if you are worried about yourself or someone else, confidential help is available.
These organisations provide free, confidential and trauma-informed support:

• Equally Safe Falkirk 
• Committed to Ending Abuse (CEA)
• Shakti Women’s Aid
• Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre
• SARCS (Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service) – 24/7 support following sexual assault:  0800 148 88 88

National helplines are also available:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
• Rape Crisis Scotland – 08088 01 03 02
• Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327
• You don’t have to be in crisis to contact these services — someone will listen and help you find the right support.