4. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Update on Ukraine

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:42 pm on 3 May 2022.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 3:42, 3 May 2022

Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan, and I thank you for raising that important issue as well. The horrors—it's night after night we've seen it, the horrors of the crimes, the war crimes and the rape of women. This is something that is crucially important, that we're able to support, but also get the evidence. This is something that the Counsel General is taking up as well in terms of ensuring that we get that indictment, as it will come, in terms of the horrors of the war crimes from Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

But also you make such a key point, not only are they coming—. It's mainly women and children who are coming here as our refugees, so that means that they're coming with all that they've experienced and their loss—their menfolk are on the front line—their experiences, and with their children. But also, when they come here, they need to have access to that counselling, that support, our violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence services. Also, that makes it so important that we then can provide them with the assurance that we will safeguard them when they come to Wales.