Image source, Getty Images

That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 27 November 2019.

MSPs agreed a compromise that would allow the 2014 independence referendum question to be used again in a future ballot.

There had been calls for the Electoral Commission to be consulted about the wording of the question.

However, Holyrood's constitution committee said the question would not need to be tested during the current term as long as MSPs back the move.

The electoral watchdog would also have some input during the process.

Image source, bbc

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie says government and indeed all parties at Holyrood are working 365 days to end gender-based violence.

Ms McKelvie said violence against women and girls "is never, ever acceptable" and meaningful action must be taken to stop it.

The minister cites the Equally Safe strategy as one approach the government is taking to tackle the issue.

Ms McKelvie tells the chamber she will visit the Dogs Trust Freedom Project in Glasgow tomorrow to highlight The Freedom Project, external, a dog fostering service for people leaving domestic abuse and going into a refuge.

Image source, Scottish Government

Equally Safe is the name of a Scottish government strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls, external

Aims include early and effective intervention, and promoting positive gender roles.

"Whatever form it takes, violence against women and girls can have both an immediate and long-lasting impact on the women, children and young people directly involved. It is quite simply unacceptable for modern day Scotland and does not reflect the country of equality we aspire to become."

Lib Dem Beatrice Wishart told the chamber her constituency of Shetland is blighted by domestic abuse, just like anywhere.

The MSP says education is key in leading to change, and highlights Scotland's new coercive control laws, which are world leading.

"No one should be subjected to violence".

Image source, Laura Dodsworth

More than 400 crimes have been recorded by Police Scotland in the first three months after a new domestic abuse law was introduced.

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act criminalises the "coercive and controlling behaviours" of offenders.

It created a single offence, carrying a maximum 14-year sentence, covering psychological, financial or sexual abuse.

So far, 190 cases have been reported to the Crown Office with 13 convictions.

• New domestic abuse law 'could change Scotland'
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

John Finnie says he agrees that it is gender inequality that drives gender-based violence.

The Green MSP highlights the role men should play in resolving these issues.

He congratulates all the organisations that fight very hard to protect the women and girls in our community.

The Green MSP cites powerful testimony he heard at a Rape Crisis Scotland, external meeting.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell begins with human trafficking, pointing to four individuals who trafficked four young women from Slovakia to Govanhill.

The four people who trafficked women and forced their victims into prostitution and sham marriages were jailed earlier this year.

The women were transported to flats in the Govanhill area between 2011 and 2017, then exploited by the gang. One was sold in the city's Argyle Street.

However young women are also being trafficked within Scotland every day, says the justice committee convener.

She calls on people to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they see something that does not feel right and reminds the chamber this can be done anonymously.

Image source, bbc

In September the BBC reported the number of people killed as a result of domestic violence in the UK is at its highest level in five years.

Last year, 173 people were killed in domestic violence-related homicides, according to data obtained by the BBC from 43 police forces across the UK - an increase of 32 deaths on 2017.

One criminologist described them as "invisible victims of knife crime".

Read more here.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish congratulates Emma Forbes for the GlassWalls project.

95% of rapes had a woman victim in 2014-15, she says, adding that rape is about power.

Ms Beamish says she is committed to holding offenders to account, saying prosecution rates are too low.

She adds that a Dogs Trust campaign to give foster care to pets will encourage more women to leave violent partners.

Image source, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence against women is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute. “16 Days,” as it has become known, was launched and continues to be coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

#RatifyILO190, external is a central demand of this year’s Global 16 Days Campaign that aims to mobilize women, across movements, to collectively take action in advancing the ratification and implementation of the newly adopted ILO instruments:

The International Labour Organisation C190 is its violence and harassment convention., external

Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (C190) and Violence and Harassment Recommendation, 2019 (R206).

Read more here at the campaign website, external

Image source, GlassWalls

GlassWalls, external is a stained-glass art installation which raises awareness of domestic abuse through art.

The installation will depict the sweep of progress made in Scotland to address domestic abuse through words and pictures, etched into vibrant, bright-coloured tall glass panels on light boxes.

Calligraphy alongside the drawings will use women’s voices to highlight the challenges still faced by those who have experienced abuse.

Switching on the light-boxes will create a bold, dancing palate of colour.

The purpose is to create a challenging social commentary of a dark issue that is purposefully dynamic, beautiful and bright.

Rona MacKay starts by thanking MSPs for supporting the debate.

She wishes she didn't have to have the debate, calling gender based violence a scourge of our society.

There's been a debate on this issue every year since the Scottish parliament opened, she says, with levels of violence against women remaining '"alarmingly high".

Men must join in the effort to combat all forms of discrimination, she adds.

Ms MacKay welcomes members of the Daisy Project to the chamber, which is a domestic violence advocacy group and praises the GlassWalls project.

Image source, bbc

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, external is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

It runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign, external (UNiTE campaign) calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

In 2019, the UNiTE campaign will mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the theme,“Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!”, external

Read more at the UN Women website., external

MSPs will now mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December 2019.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay, who is leading the debate, congratulates Emma Forbes, founder of GlassWalls, external, which is an inspiring art installation dedicated to women who have experienced domestic abuse.

This exhibition will be in the Scottish Parliament to coincide with the campaign, and hopes that everyone can visit the stand.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie’s motion, as amended by the SNP and Labour, is agreed to with 66 MSPs backing it and with 38 against.