8. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy 2022-26

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:50 pm on 28 June 2022.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 5:50, 28 June 2022

I think the issues around the survivor voice are very important and key to my response already. Voices of survivors must be at the centre of everything we do, so we're actually developing a survivor voice scrutiny and involvement panel, and that has to be a diverse group of survivors, covering the whole spectrum of VAWDASV. That will also be chaired by the national adviser, and it's also drawing from our pre-established survivor groups across Wales. That's crucially important.

The First Minister did respond to the issue and the questions you raised about what we're doing in terms of perpetrators. He rightly drew attention to the objectives of the strategy: increasing the focus on holding those who commit abuse to account, but also supporting those who actually want to change their behaviour and avoid offending. That is the objective: supporting those who may carry out abusive or violent behaviour to change their behaviour. So, we are building on existing programmes, and clearly this is something where we have to ensure that all perpetrators will be held to account, but recognising that this is about addressing the power and control dynamic created by gender inequality. I've been very welcoming of the fact that across this Chamber we've had many of our male colleagues saying that this is about the future for their children, their sons, as well as clearly their daughters, in terms of the ongoing risks in terms of tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. 

Sexual harassment in schools is a priority across the Welsh Government—that every child and young person is supported, that they feel able to report any concerns that they may have. You've mentioned the Hafan programme, which is crucially important. It's done so much good work. I do welcome the work of Estyn in terms of their response. They were asked, of course, by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language to review the culture and processes at secondary schools after the Everyone's Invited website, and they're going to visit schools throughout the autumn. We will be awaiting the conclusions outlined in their review. And, of course, crucially—and this is a real step forward—relationships and sexuality education will be a statutory part of the new Curriculum for Wales.

It is important that we recognise the fact that, as far as men are concerned, there are male victims, but you know, Welsh Government recognise that it is committed primarily but not exclusively by men against women, and that we have to then recognise that. I've talked about what we are doing in terms of perpetrators and holding them to account, but also addressing the ways in which we can support through programmes their awareness and taking responsibility to change. Just in terms of the support or recognition of male victims, last year we provided funding of £16,000 to train professionals who come into contact with male victims in their day-to-day roles—so, that's housing, education, and social care—so that they can identify and recognise and understand the signs displayed by men who are experiencing domestic abuse. We do continue to support the Safer Wales Dyn project. The Dyn project works to enhance safety and increase well-being through a collaborative approach. We provide £75,000 to that project. But, you know, it does go back to how, every three days, there's one death in domestic violence at the hands of men, and every day we see that horrendous pandemic, as it has been described, continuing.

I hope you will be backing the next stage of our strategy as we address the causes, the societal need to respond to this, and also to back this blueprint approach, where we make the changes that we need to make Wales the safest place to live in Europe.