Protections in the justice system for women and girls

Date: 9th April 2026
Category: Child justice system, Protection from abuse or neglect

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Closing Date: 31st August 2026 

Scottish Government has opened a consultation seeking views on what steps could be taken to improve how protection for women and girls is delivered within the justice system. In some areas, it is looking for views on specific proposals for criminal law reform that would create new necessary protections for women and girls. 

The consultation covers: 

• non-fatal strangulation 

• spiking 

• statutory aggravation – offences committed against pregnant women 

• prosecutorial powers to impose non-harassment orders 

• online and technology-facilitated harm: 

• intimate images offences (relating to deepfakes and nudify apps) 

• general criminal law online and technology related harm 

• further steps that could be considered 
  
  

 

Find out more about the consultation 

Read the consultation paper