Victims of gender-based violence in West Dunbartonshire are being encouraged to speak out after official figures found the area is home to one of the highest domestic abuse rates in Scotland.

More than 68,000 instances of domestic abuse were reported in Scotland in 2020-21 - a rate of 119 per 10,000 people.

The rate in West Dunbartonshire of 168 per 10,000 people is the second highest for any council area in the country, lower only than Dundee City.

And councillors warned the true extent of the "hidden crime" was likely to be far greater, with one suggesting the latest figures were just "the tip of the iceberg".

Next month the local authority will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls as it joins the annual campaign against gender-based violence. 

A motion was brought before the full council by SNP councillor Lauren Oxley which asked members to understand that while men and women are both potential victims and perpetrators of violence, sex and gender-based violence is disproportionately experienced by women. 

During the meeting, Cllr Oxley praised the work carried out by West Dunbartonshire organisations including Clydebank Women’s Aid, Dumbarton District Women’s Aid, and Rape Crisis, and asked the council’s communication team to raise awareness for the international day of the elimination of violence against women.

Cllr Oxley told colleagues: “The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls was founded by the United Nations in 2000, although November 25 has been observed as a day against gender-based violence since the 1980s.

“The date honours the Mirabal sisters, who were three political activists who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of their country’s ruler.

“Over 60 years later, we are frequently still seeing scenes of injustice and abuse against women.

"Across Scotland, while many crimes have been going down, sexual crime has been on the rise since 1974 - including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and the threatening of or disclosure of intimate images.

“On top of this 61,000 domestic abuse instances were recorded in 2020 and 2021 with around 80 per cent involving a female victim and a male accused. 

“Here in West Dunbartonshire, statistics show that we have the second highest level of domestic abuse cases in Scotland, with 168 instances [per 10,000 people] being reported between 2020 and 2021. 

“On top of this, we can assume that the actual number is much higher as so many cases go unreported. Therefore it is evident that violence against women is a serious issue within our communities and we must tackle it.

“We cannot downplay the importance of joining organisations across the world in the campaign against violence against women.”

The motion received unanimous support from councillors, who also commended the work charitable organisations were doing in the community.

Councillor Michelle McGinty, the authority's depute leader and convener of the area's health and social care partnership board, said: “We are aware that the number of instances of domestic violence in West Dunbartonshire is particularly high which is not something we are proud of.

“It is very important that this motion has been brought forward, and I would hope that everyone supports it, so we can do more and highlight this at every possible turn as it is a hidden crime and is very hard to get witnesses.

“Women are often scared to come forward. I hope agreeing to this motion will help.”