Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:25 pm on 29 September 2021.
Well, can I thank Joyce Watson for raising this question this afternoon, following my statement yesterday and, indeed, for her long-term, long-standing commitment to tackling violence against women, which was well before she even became elected to the Senedd? And I think, for new Members, it's a really important time coming up, with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children. All parties take part, and what we can do this year, we will see, but it's very important, and the white ribbons will start being worn around this Chamber.
Can I also say that this is very good news, that the safe places initiative—that the Senedd may, hopefully, become one of those? The Commission, I'm sure, will be looking at that very carefully. And I congratulate particularly the businesses in Cardiff who started this safe places initiative—those businesses, FOR Cardiff— recognising that this is all partners—private, public and third sector—that come together to address this scourge, this endemic violence against women.
So, I just want to reassure the Senedd today that our next violence against women and domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy will take on these wider dimensions of violence against women in public places and in the workplace. We've been clear always as a Welsh Government about our ambition to end violence against women and girls. It is a societal problem, as I said in my statement, which requires a societal response, and it is about challenging attitudes and changing behaviours of those who behave abusively. And this is crucial, but also, as I have said in my statement, Wales will not be a bystander to abuse. But I'm glad that police and crime commissioners, public safety boards are all coming together. We're consulting on our draft strategy, and I know that the Live Fear Free campaigns will be taking on this huge issue in terms of awareness of stalking, harassment, abuse and violence against women in all aspects of life, including the street and other public places.