The Justice Committee takes evidence on the Domestic Abuse Scotland Bill at stage 1
The Scottish government gives a statement on the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion
A statement on the Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015 will then be given
MSPs debate human trafficking and exploitation
Labour MSP Neil Findlay leads this evening's member's debate entitled 'Leading Journalists Criticise the Scottish Government over FOISA'
Dr Marsha Scott from Scottish Women's Aid says the biggest concern about this bill is that "a policy instrument is only as good as its implementation."
Dr Scott says there is a history in Scotland of bringing in good legislation and not implementing it properly.
She says "this will be transformative potentially" but only if the rest of the system is fit for purpose.
Image source, bbcDr Marsha Scott from Scottish Women's Aid
Green MSP John Finnie says it is important to pass good and practical laws and asks about the challenges facing the police.
Dr Marsha Scott from Scottish Women's Aid says the biggest challenge is the current set up.
Dr Scott says: "The biggest risk to us is not challenging the status quo."
Image source, Shakti Women's AidTaken from the Shakti Women's Aid website, external:
"Shakti Women’s Aid helps BME women, children and young people experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse from a partner, ex-partner and/or other members of the household.
"We also work closely with the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, NHS Scotland and other statutory and voluntary services.
"We provide training and consultancy for agencies working with BME women, children and young people.
Girijamba Polubothu from Shakti Women's Aid says we don't want the perpetrators to hide behind their culture.
Ms Polubothu says: "We have to be mindful of that."
Image source, Scottish Women's AidTaken from the Scottish Women's Aid website:, external
"Scottish Women's Aid is the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. We play a vital role campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to domestic abuse.
"An important aspect of our work is ensuring that women and children who have experienced domestic abuse get the services they need, both from local Women’s Aid groups and from the agencies they are likely to contact.
"Our members are local Women’s Aid groups which provide specialist services to women, children and young people. These include safe refuge accommodation, information and support.
"We provide advice, information, training and publications to members and non-members."
Here is the submission to the committee from Scottish Women's Aid., external
Heather Williams from Scottish Women's Aid says there are issues for women from Eastern Europe in terms of their rights to be here.
Ms Williams says their immigration status is being used against them particularly with the uncertainties around Brexit.
She says: "Abusers will use whatever they can to maintain that control."
Girijamba Polubothu from Shakti Women's Aid says it is becoming difficult to evidence coercive control so women are failing to get secure immigration status.
This is actually putting women at real risk says Ms Polubothu.
They can then be deported she says.
Labour MSP Mary Fee asks if the use of religious and cultural abuse should be used as an aggravator of domestic abuse.
Dr Marsha Scott from Scottish Women's Aid says we need to remember that this is really about gender and perpetrators use all kinds of things, like culture and familial permission giving.
Girijamba Polubothu from Shakti Women's Aid says a women's family abroad are often threatened as a means of control.
Ms Polubothu says rumours are often created in BME communities.
She says she hasn't seen any dowry violence killings in this country but that women are burnt abroad or take their own lives but she would class it more as murder because of the abuse.
Ms Polubothu says often in these communities women are seen as being there to cook and clean and many husbands want them to remain a size 10.
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Image source, bbcGirijamba Polubothu from Shakti Women's Aid
Labour MSP Mary Fee asks about the affect of the legislation on women from an ethnic background.
Ms Fee says she knows there are issues around arranged marriage and honour based violence.
Girijamba Polubothu from Shakti Women's Aid thanks the committee for recognising coercive control.
Ms Polubothu says it does not matter what culture or ethnicity a women comes from it is gender based violence.
She says this country's laws must be followed.
The Justice Committee, external begins by taking evidence onthe Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill , externalat Stage 1.
Committee convener Margaret Mitchell introduces......
Image source, ThinkstockMinisters said the new law would tackle prolonged psychological abuse
Scotland is to become one of the first countries in the world to criminalise psychological abuse, Holyrood heard in September.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson was speaking as MSPs debated the new Domestic Abuse Bill in the Scottish Parliament.
He used the debate to condemn the "pernicious, coercive and controlling behaviour" of perpetrators.
Police Scotland recorded almost 60,000 cases of domestic abuse in 2014-15.
The majority (79%) of cases involved a male perpetrator and a female victim.
The new bill will create a specific offence of "abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner".
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The committee will then hear from:
The Justice Committee will shortly evidence on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill , externalat Stage 1 from:
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the Scottish Parliament for Tuesday 13 June 2017.
First up this morning, we'll bring your full and extensive coverage of the Justice Committee as it takes evidence on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.
Image source, PA / Thinkstock / Getty / BBCThis afternoon in the chamber we begin with this week's topical questions as the threat of industrial action from EIS and the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme are raised.
The government will then give a statement on the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion.
This will be followed by another government statement on the Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015.
The government will then lead a debate on human trafficking and exploitation.
After decision time, Labour MSP Neil Findlay will lead this evening's member's debate on the recent criticism of the Scottish government in relation to FOI requests.