PE2025: Improve the support available to victims of domestic violence, who have been forced to flee their home
Petition Summary
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to improve the support available to victims of domestic violence who have been forced to flee the marital home by:
- ensuring access to legal aid for divorce proceedings where domestic violence is a contributing factor;
- ensuring victims are financially compensated for loss of the marital home, including loss of personal possessions and furniture left in the property; and
- ensuring that victims are consulted before any changes are made to non-harassment orders.
Petitioner: Bernadette Foley
Status: Under consideration
Date published: 25 April 2023
Click here for the full petition
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Consideration
SPICe Briefing (147KB, pdf) posted 01 June 2023
Committee Meetings
6 September 2023: The Committee agreed to write to Scottish Women’s Aid, the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre, the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Law Commission, and the Scottish Government.
Official Report of Meeting 06 September 2023
Written Submissions
PE2025/A: Scottish Government submission of 1 June 2023 (132KB, pdf) (132KB, pdf) posted 31 August 2023
PE2025/B: Scottish Law Commission submission of 26 September 2023 (154KB, pdf) (154KB, pdf) posted 02 October 2023
PE2025/C: Law Society of Scotland submission of 1 November 2023 (48KB, pdf) posted 06 November 2023
PE2025/D: Scottish Government submission of 3 November 2023 (98KB, pdf) posted 06 November 2023
PE2025/E: Scottish Women’s Rights Centre submission of 6 February 2024 (118KB, pdf) posted 13 March 2024
PE2025/F: Scottish Women’s Aid written submission, 17 April 2024 (207KB, pdf) posted 24 April 2024