7. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the role of sport in combating violence against women? OAQ53094

Yes, indeed. We know that studies show that incidents of domestic violence spike following sporting events, so I look to the sports sector to promote the firm message that violence against women is completely unacceptable and to take action within their own ranks. We should promote the positive effects and outcomes of sport and make sure that the negative aspects are well known.

I'd like to thank the leader of the house for that answer, and I'm sure that she is aware, like she has rightly stated, that studies have linked major sporting events to an increase of reports of domestic violence, not to mention the violence that also isn't reported. For example, during the 2002, 2006 and 2010 football World Cups, Lancaster police force recorded a rise of domestic violence by 38 per cent on the days when England lost, and I understand this to be the case in more recent tournaments as well. Similar to that, South Wales Police have recorded increased reports when Wales play England at rugby in Cardiff, and, in recent years, the offences rose by 79 per cent, compared to the week before.

Now, it's important to remember that women don't just experience violence and abuse at the hands of their partners every day, only on the days when sport is on tv—actually, it's every day; I apologise for that. Deputy Llywydd, the wide appeal of sport, however, can be exploited to engage males to come together and support them in confrontation about these issues and the underpinning of domestic violence in conjunction with female empowerment and the pursuit of gender equality.

I've been working very closely with my grassroots football team—FC Nomads of Connah's Quay—to promote the White Ribbon campaign. I'm also very pleased to have recently worked with the Welsh Rugby Union and with Newport County AFC, alongside my colleagues John Griffiths and Jayne Bryant. So, would the leader of the house welcome the commitment of sports organisations and clubs, and could she commit, or indeed encourage the next Minister with this in their portfolio to work alongside the Minister for sport on this very important issue? Because, Deputy Llywydd, I think Members will agree across this Chamber that, win or lose, there is no excuse for domestic violence.

I absolutely congratulate many of the sporting clubs across Wales, and especially the male versions of the sporting clubs who've been very active in the White Ribbon campaign. Many of the clubs around—the Ospreys in particular, for example, and their community programme and Swansea Whites and a number of others across—. It's invidious to name them, actually, because there are large numbers of them who take part in it.

We did rerun the This Is Me and Don't Be a Bystander campaigns during the 16 days of the autumn internationals and supported, as you know, the White Ribbon campaign; you were a very prominent supporter yourself. We are looking to rerun them in the spring during the internationals again. The idea here is to get the level of awareness that we got for Kick It Out with sporting events, so that the men who are the fans understand that this is not an acceptable response to disappointment, or actually, oddly enough, exhilaration in sport, because the spike happens whether you win or lose, rather distressingly. But to emphasise the importance of sport. So, we are very aware of it; we are running the campaigns again, we've funded them to do so, and I would absolutely pay tribute to the sporting clubs who've joined in, because it's very important that young men have the right role models to know that that's not what being masculine is all about.

Thank you very much, leader of the house.