The Scottish Greens have promised to introduce a misogyny Bill to the next Scottish Parliament.
Co-leader Gillian Mackay attacked the SNP for failing to act with “urgency” on a “national emergency”.
She said her party would bring forward a Misogyny and Criminal Justice Bill to tackle misogynistic harassment, incitement and abuse by recognising misogyny as a specific offence in Scots law.
The Scottish Government previously announced it was dropping its plans for a standalone misogyny Bill in favour of amending the Hate Crime Act to include sex.
Last year, First Minister John Swinney said the implications of the Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman would have to be considered in any legislation and there was “insufficient time” before May’s election “for a Bill to be finalised and introduced in this session”.
As part of their Holyrood election promises, the Greens said they would bring back a standalone Bill.
The party said it would also fund violence prevention services in local councils, schools and community organisations to tackle violence against women and girls.
Ms Mackay said: “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency which must be urgently tackled.
“Sadly, we haven’t seen that urgency from the Scottish Government to date, who shelved their plans.
“That is why the Scottish Greens will step up and work for the Misogyny and Criminal Justice Bill that Scotland deserves, bringing misogyny into Scots law as a specific criminal offence.
“Securing such a change in the law is a vital step to ensuring that reports of harassment and assault, whether that be physical or online, are taken seriously and acted upon.
“In an age where we are seeing a global revival of misogyny, spurred on by Donald Trump and the wider far-right movement, it feels like we are going backwards.
“Social media has made things worse for so many women and girls, with so much of this harassment online, making those platforms increasingly hostile places.”
The Scottish Greens co-leader said legislation was “only part of the picture” but added that it was important people are not allowed to get away with misogynistic abuse against women and girls.
“This Bill must be part of a bigger institutional and cultural change that we need to see across society,” she said.
Siobhian Brown, SNP candidate for Ayr, said: “As per our manifesto commitment, we recognise women face abuse in their everyday lives and need increased protection against this – that’s why we will bring forward a Misogyny Bill to legislate to ensure harassment and abuse based on misogyny is outlawed in Scotland.”
