6. 5. Statement: Progress on Implementation of the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:56 pm on 21 June 2016.

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Photo of Carl Sargeant Carl Sargeant Labour 3:56, 21 June 2016

I thank the Member for her contribution. Again, Joyce Watson, thank you for your contribution to this programme as well—internationally recognised in terms of the work that you’ve done. So, working together we can make a big difference in this, as many other people in the field do too.

The Member raises some really interesting points. I am aware of the school in Llanelli and the play that they put on, because, while you invited Huw Lewis to attend, I seem to recall having some intervention as well in that process. I congratulate the young people, building on healthy relationships, because that’s what I believe. The communities portfolio has been enhanced by actually having responsibility now specifically for children and young people, because I do believe that if we can make some early interventions on healthy relationships at a young age it prepares people for the long term in life. I’m really pleased to be able to work with my Cabinet Secretary colleagues in terms of how we can jointly work to this single agenda of well-being in our communities, starting with young people.

The issue the Member raises regarding housing, particularly, is another area in which I’m very interested. I’ve always been very impressed at the way that the housing sector can support this very issue. I remember, back in the portfolio many years ago when I asked the housing associations to introduce work-based policies and client-based policies for domestic violence, that nearly all of them did. One was a little bit challenging, but, when we talked about money, they decided that it was probably a wise idea to move into that space for the right reasons. We’ve got all housing associations across Wales now with work-based policies around domestic violence, and for their clients too. So, they are able to influence and do some more work. The ‘ask and act’ programme they’re involved in is something that, again, remains unique to Wales in a global setting. So, we are doing some really clever work.

The same-sex relationships: I share your concern, and in particular we saw the tragic events that happened in Orlando last week—just saying that we still aren’t, people aren’t, accepting what is perfectly natural to what we see in daily life, and how do we make sure that services align to supporting people who choose to live in same-sex couple relationships? Actually, domestic violence isn’t just about marital relationships: it’s father and son, mother and daughter, and a whole mixture of how these incidents are taken forward. We have to be very clever in the way that we look and how we support people in their disclosure programmes.

I’m very keen to make sure that we make progress on this. I think there were some people in the sector—some of my officials, even—who were thinking, ‘Oh no, he’s back’. Well, I am back and let’s hope that we can work together to make sure that we can make real changes—passionately doing something that will be for the good and safety of people across our communities. The way we’ll do that is working with the national strategy, the national adviser and national indicators, and working with the principles we set down in Government last term about the well-being of future generations Act, making sure we can plan for the future, working with our young people, encouraging, educating people about healthy relationships. That’s something I know, working with you and many in this Chamber, that we can achieve.