Communities Secretary Reiterates Commitment To Tackling Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse And Sexual Violence

Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant today reiterated his commitment to tackling Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual violence ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Addressing Assembly Members, the Cabinet Secretary said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“On 25 November, we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and White Ribbon Day. In 2014 Welsh Government became a White Ribbon organisation and I am proud to have been an ambassador for many years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have been on a long journey to get to where we are today, but it has already been some eighteen months since Royal Assent of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 and implementation is well underway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We cannot underestimate the sheer task of implementing the Act. We all have a role to play in tackling the underlying issues which allow violence and abuse to happen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We need to further strengthen the collaboration between Government, the public service and stakeholder organisations, ensuring that victims and survivors are at the forefront of everything we do. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We must continue not to condone or remain silent about violence against women. In support of this, our ‘making a stand’ campaign has been re-launched and I would urge you all to engage as many people as possible to participate in and promote the campaign. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We should all be very proud of the progress which has been achieved over the past eighteen months but we can do more. Our goal is for nobody to need these services, but until that happens, we must ensure that provision to support people is in place, that it is appropriate and that it addresses need.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary addressed the Assembly ahead of attending a candle lit vigil at the Pierhead building. He will also address the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse And Sexual Violence Conference on Wednesday and attend the Light a Candle service in honour of the silent victims of violence against women and domestic abuse at Llandaff Cathedral on Friday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, the Welsh Government and Cadw will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, by projecting the White Ribbon onto The Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay and Caerphilly, Caernarfon and Conwy Castles on Friday night. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​