North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to respond to a report calling for improved support for disabled people experiencing violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wales.
Last week, Mr Isherwood Chaired a joint meeting of the Assembly Cross Party Group on Disability and the Assembly Cross Party Group on Violence against Women and Children, at which a joint report was launched between Welsh Women’s Aid and Disability Wales on disabled people’s experiences of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
During yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood called on the Welsh Government to look at and respond to the recommendations outlined in the report.
Speaking in the Chamber, he said:
“Last week, I Chaired a joint meeting of the Cross Party Groups on Disability and on Violence against Women and Children, looking at the impact of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence on disabled women.
“We produced a report—or, more importantly, we launched a report—jointly produced by Disability Wales and Welsh Women's Aid on supporting disabled people in these areas, because evidence continues to show that disabled people are more likely to experience violence, abuse and sexual violence in these areas, yet support and resources for them are still limited. A series of recommendations were made—I haven't got time now to list them all, but I would urge the Welsh Government to look at those recommendations and respond accordingly.”
Responding the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, asked for a copy of the report for the relevant Minister “to explore and look at the recommendations for Welsh Government within it”.
Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Isherwood said:
“Informed by survivors’ and specialist services feedback, this joint report by Disability Wales and Welsh Women’s Aid called, amongst other things, for the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRDP) in Welsh policy and legislation, for agencies to work to identify disabled survivors and their experiences of abuse as early as possible, ensure staff are trained to understand and reduce the specific barriers to disclosure for disabled people, and recognise the specific forms which violence against disabled women may take, and for accessible information on violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence to be available”.
