Annie Lennox Backs The Sunday Post’s “It’s Time” Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls

The campaign aims to bring together government, employers, public services, sporting organisations, community groups and cultural figures to challenge harmful attitudes, support survivors and promote healthy, respectful relationships.

Sharing the campaign on her social media channels, Annie explained why she felt it was important to lend her voice to the initiative:

"It's time. As co-founder of The Circle I'm proud to take part in The Sunday Post's new 'It's Time' campaign to end violence against women and girls in Scotland.

This initiative brings together public figures, employers, government and communities to confront the root causes of an epidemic that too often stays hidden.

It's estimated that out of 348,000 violent attacks against women in Scotland each year, only One in Six are ever reported.

Change begins when we start recognising the hidden secret that's taking place across the country!"

Annie's support comes as no surprise to those familiar with her long-standing humanitarian work. Through The Circle, the global feminist organisation she co-founded, Annie has spent many years supporting women-led organisations and campaigning for gender equality and an end to violence against women.

She also contributed a formal statement to the campaign itself, calling for action across society:

"It's absolutely imperative that gender-based violence is taken out of the shadows and fully exposed once and for all.

We live in a world where one in three women experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. This could be your daughter, your sister, mother, grandmother, friend, neighbour, work colleague, or the woman walking past you right now.

We must include 'men and boys' in this dialogue, so it becomes a shared understanding that violence against women is totally unacceptable.

Just as society transformed attitudes towards smoking, we can transform attitudes and behaviours that allow violence to continue.

Violence is not inevitable. We believe this pandemic of violence can and must be changed.

No man should ever use violence against a woman. Whether through intimidation, abuse or physical harm, it is a cowardly and deeply destructive act that has no place in our society.

Together, we can create a world where violence against women and girls is never tolerated, never ignored and never excused."

The It's Time campaign was launched following a powerful Sunday Post investigation that highlighted the scale of violence against women in Scotland and the devastating impact it continues to have on families and communities. Campaign organisers believe that meaningful change can only happen when society works together to challenge misogyny, support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

Among those supporting the initiative are First Minister John Swinney, former First Minister Lord Jack McConnell, domestic abuse expert Professor Jane Monckton Smith, justice reform specialist Karyn McCluskey, Scottish Women's Aid, Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, trade unions, charities, sporting organisations and a number of well-known Scottish artists and broadcasters, including KT Tunstall, Lorraine Kelly, Barbara Dickson, Val McDermid and Callum Beattie.

A key part of the campaign is the new It's Time Workplace Charter, which encourages employers to recognise the signs of domestic abuse, provide support to affected staff and create workplaces where misogyny and abuse are actively challenged. The campaign also hopes to establish an emergency support fund for families needing urgent assistance to escape dangerous situations.

Throughout the campaign, organisers are emphasising that violence against women and girls is not an issue for governments or the justice system alone. Lasting change requires action from schools, workplaces, communities, families and individuals, particularly men and boys, who are being encouraged to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours whenever they encounter them.

For Annie Lennox, that message echoes work she has championed throughout her career as an activist and humanitarian. By lending her support to It's Time, she is helping amplify a campaign that hopes to spark a national conversation and create lasting change across Scotland.

To learn more about the It's Time campaign and how you can support its goals, visit The Sunday Post's campaign page via the link below.