Commending Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre for its Work in Supporting Women and Girls

That the Parliament commends Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (GCRC) for what it sees as its vital and tireless work supporting women and girls affected by rape and sexual violence across Glasgow and Clyde, particularly in the face of any declining and insecure funding; notes with concern reports that demand for support has increased year on year since 2021, with the centre recording over 40,000 contact points with survivors in the last year, representing a 42% increase from the previous year, and providing one-to-one trauma support to nearly 3,100 women and girls, almost one in three survivors nationally; understands that this rising demand reflects a broader increase in reported sexual crimes in Scotland, with a 3% rise nationally and a 13% rise in Glasgow; considers, however, that funding has not kept pace with the scale of need; understands that GCRC currently receives £549,483 from the Scottish Government’s Delivering Equally Safe Fund and £171,000 from the Victim Centred Approach Fund to deliver advocacy and support for survivors, but requires an additional £500,000 in 2025-26 to sustain its current level of services; welcomes the publication of the GCRC manifesto, which calls on politicians to commit to long-term, sustainable funding for all Rape Crisis services, to take action to address the root causes of sexual violence, to ensure trauma-informed, consistent responses for survivors across Scotland, and to simplify reporting processes and strengthen access to justice; reaffirms the right of women and girls to feel safe and protected from all forms of violence and abuse, and calls on the Scottish Government to work with Rape Crisis Scotland, GCRC and other partners to secure sustainable funding and implement systemic change to end the crisis of rape and sexual violence in Scotland.