Domestic abuse is Scotland’s hidden emergency. Survivors are clear; the upcoming election is a chance to change that.

This is a significant moment for the family justice system and an opportunity to strengthen how children’s voices are heard, recognising children and young people as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.

SafeLives’ statement on the Courts and Tribunals Bill welcomes reforms that prioritise survivor safety, including the removal of the presumption of parental contact and stronger protections for victims. However, we raise concerns about proposals for judge-only trials and call for proper investment in the justice system.

This week’s announcements mark meaningful progress: the repeal of the presumption of parental contact in the family courts, alongside amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill that restrict parental responsibility in the most serious cases.

For years, the presumption of parental contact has put “both parents are best” ahead of children’s safety. Repealing it takes power away from domestic abuse perpetrators and puts children first.

New research from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Office exposes the extent to which domestic abuse is “everyday business” in the family courts.

SafeLives welcomes the findings of the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry into improving family court services for children. For too long, survivors of domestic abuse - both children and adults - have faced a system that is slow, hard to navigate, and often fails to recognise or respond effectively to the risks they face.

Our response to new measures in the Victims and Courts Bill. We call for trauma-informed implementation, sustainable funding, and protections for all survivors—no matter who they are or how they identify.

The Advisory Group inputted into the programme throughout the two and a half years of the project. The group includes domestic abuse organisations, family legal professionals, academics, and representatives from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Office.