Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Social Work Resources Committee, Councillor Margaret Walker, said: “Gender based violence of any form is completely unacceptable and the 16 Days of Action are an important part in highlighting that message.

“We are fully supportive as a council of this international campaign which continues to go from strength-to-strength every year.”

The 16 Days of Activism is led by UN Women, the UN organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential.

This year the focus is on digital violence, putting the spotlight on a range of issues from online harassment and cyberstalking to doxing, non-consensual image sharing, deepfakes, and disinformation.

Locally, Lanarkshire Rape Crisis Centre are holding their annual Reclaim the Night march tonight, starting at 6pm from St John’s Church in Duke Street, Hamilton.

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer for Health and Social Care added: “As a community, we have a responsibility to challenge gender-based violence in all its forms.

“Digital violence is a growing threat – from online harassment to image-based abuse, these behaviours cause real harm.

“Events like Reclaim the Night show the strength of our community in standing together against violence.”

More information on South Lanarkshire’s Gender Based Violence Partnership is available from the council website.

A conference was recently held at council HQ in Hamilton aimed at early intervention and prevention of gender based violence. A short film from the day features speakers including Laura Bates, an award-winning author and expert on gender inequality.