First Minister Unveils New Initiatives to Combat Misogyny
Scottish Government launches Respect Fund and refreshed 'Don't Be That Guy' campaign to tackle violence against women and girls.
By Morag Henderson
••3 min read
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The Scottish Government has announced a series of interventions aimed at tackling misogyny and violence against women and girls, including a new Respect Fund for schools and a refreshed 'Don't Be That Guy' campaign.
A new Respect Fund for Scotland will invest up to an additional £1 million from 2027/28 to support high school pupils in rejecting misogyny and promoting respect. Primary school pupils will also receive age-appropriate learning on respect.
The funding will be complemented by a Scottish Government-backed campaign, featuring leading sporting organisations and prominent sportsmen, for a new phase of the 'Don't Be That Guy' campaign. Initially launched by Police Scotland in 2021, the campaign aims to encourage men to challenge attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women and girls.
Scottish Rugby, the Scottish Football Association, and Scottish Tennis are among the national organisations backing the refreshed campaign, alongside sports personalities such as Scotland rugby players Jamie Dobie and Grant Gilchrist, and tennis player Connor Thomson.
This initiative is part of a broader package of action led by the First Minister to address misogyny in Scotland. This includes a commitment to introduce a Misogyny Bill before the 2027 summer recess to provide specific legal protection from harassment for women and girls.
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"Violence against women and girls is completely deplorable and has no place in the Scotland we are building. I am determined we do all we can to tackle it and ensure men change their behaviours."
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"People of all ages need to feel able to talk openly to their male friends and colleagues about behaviour that is misogynistic and damaging to women, and contributes to a culture that targets, minimises and harms women and girls."
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"This funding will help empower pupils to challenge the attitudes that help perpetuate harmful behaviour, backed by the refreshed Don’t Be That Guy campaign – which will use the reach and influence of some of Scotland’s most well-known sporting personalities, to give prominence to this important national conversation."
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"I want Scotland to be a place where women and girls live free from violence, coercive control, abuse and exploitation, which is why over the coming year this government will also bring forward a Misogyny Bill to give women and girls specific legal protection from harassment."
Sporting organisations working with the Scottish Government to support positive action include the Scottish Football Association, SPFL / SPFL Trust, Scottish Rugby, Scottish Cycling, Scottish Swimming, Scottish Athletics, Scottish Golf, Tennis Scotland, and Team Scotland.
