Responding to the Social Justice Minister’s Statement on The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood, who Shadows the Minister, raised a number of issues which he said are key to real delivery of the strategy.
Mr Isherwood, who was one of the three party spokespeople in the fourth Assembly who took the Welsh Government to the line over passage of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, securing Welsh Government pledges in several areas, emphasised the importance of perpetrator programmes and expressed concern that “the only mention of perpetrators in the latest violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence national advisors’ annual plan refers to exploring a blueprint for the whole system, that aims, amongst other things, to hold perpetrators accountable.”
He also raised concern that “the relationships and sexuality education, or RSE code forming part of the new Curriculum for Wales, which is before the Senedd next week, appears not to provide guidance for teachers on what constitutes acceptable, age-appropriate material, leaving them in the unenviable position of having to make the decision themselves, in contrast to the 'plan your relationships, sex and health curriculum' guidance for schools in England”.
Speaking in the Chamber, he said:
“During the passage of the Act, I moved amendments calling for the national strategy to include provision of at least one perpetrator programme. As Relate Cymru had told Committee, ‘90 per cent of the partners they questioned some time after the end of their programme said that there had been a complete stop in violence and intimidation by their partner’. The Minister responded then that he did not consider my amendment appropriate, but had jointly funded research to help inform future responses to perpetrators.
“Speaking here four years ago, I highlighted evidence that the Cross-party Group on Violence Against Women and Children that Relate’s programme, Choose2Change, was the only current Respect-accredited programme in Wales.
“Speaking here three years ago, I raised questions over pre-custodial perpetrator programmes and how they will reflect the Respect accreditation standards. However, the only mention of perpetrators in the latest ‘Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence: national advisers annual plan’ refers to exploring ‘a blueprint for the whole system, that aims’, amongst other things, ‘to hold perpetrators accountable’. What, therefore, Minister, is the current state of play?”
“Speaking here four years ago, I noted that Welsh Women’s Aid were ‘concerned about the lack of Health Budget being invested in specialist Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence providers. Speaking here 20 months ago, remotely, I referred to the letter sent to you by Welsh Women’s Aid stating ‘that Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence specialist services across Wales have expressed confusion, frustration and concern as to what additional funding is being made available as a response to COVID-19’. What action have you, therefore, taken since to ensure sustainable funding for these essential services in both normal and exceptional times?”
Mr Isherwood also emphasised the need to recognise and respond to the fact that whilst “women are far more likely than men to be killed by partners or ex-partners, men can be victims too, and the number of men killed as a result of domestic violence has been rising”.
He said:
“Of course, there are different contexts applying to domestic abuse against women and men. However, surely we should be working to support all victims of violence and domestic abuse, using strategies and proven interventions that deliver this.
“During the passage of the Act, I also put down an amendment calling for what Welsh Women's Aid had called for in the past, which were gender-specific strategies for men and women. Again, the Minister stated that this wouldn't be in the Act but the need would be addressed as we move forward.
“How will you therefore deliver on the Welsh Government's pledge during the passage of the Act that this would be addressed.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“In her response, the Minister managed to refer to most of the issues I raised without actually answering my specific questions about them, questions about matters which are key to real delivery of the strategy, and it is extremely worrying that she continues to ignore the needs of male victims, despite my previously highlighting the ground-breaking work on this issue by domestic abuse support projects in North Wales.”