8. Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s Report — 'Everybody’s affected: Peer on peer sexual harassment among learners'

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:59 pm on 26 October 2022.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 4:59, 26 October 2022

(Translated)

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I would like to thank, if I may, members of the Children, Young People and Education Committee for their report. Inquiries such as this do help to keep these important conversations on top of the agenda, and I would like to mention today some of the steps that we are taking.

First of all, it's important that we don't ignore the power of the voices of children and young people who challenge the practice of the normalisation that we've discussed today—the normalisation of peer-on-peer sexual harassment. That was made particularly clear to me in a recent event staged by the Senedd cross-party group on preventing the sexual abuse of children, where I had an opportunity to hear from young people who have used their personal experiences to generate real change. And that's why it's important that we do ensure that the voices of children and young people are a central part of everything we do. And we are working with partner organisations on the best way of delivering that and agree that we do need to establish an advisory board and that they should have a full role, as Jayne Bryant requested I should do.

I also acknowledge that peer-on-peer sexual harassment is a broader social issue and that parents, carers and families have a key role to play in supporting young people. We will also be developing messages for parents and carers on how to deal with peer-on-peer sexual harassment. Schools and other settings have an important role to play in creating safe environments, helping to ensure that children and young people can enjoy healthy and safe relationships. 

Relationships and sexuality education is a statutory requirement for all pupils under the new curriculum. This will play a positive role in safeguarding and helping children and young people to understand behaviours and scenarios that could place them at risk of harm, so that they know what to do to stay safe and how to ask for help.