Welsh abuse strategy ‘inadequate’

A draft plan to tackle violence against women and girls is “inadequate” and does not do enough to protect them, a campaigning group has warned.

The Wales Violence Against Women (VAW) Action Group say the strategy, which the assembly government is due to publish at the end of the month. has no measurable targets or outcomes and will leave Wales behind other UK countries.

The social justice minister said the strategy was a priority for him.

To highlight the urgency of a new strategy, the action group said 160 women would be turned away from refuges in February alone, because they are virtually at capacity.
More than 350 cases of domestic abuse would be prosecuted, the group added.

The Wales VAG has been working with the assembly government on the strategy but says the shape and content of the final strategy remains unclear.

The group wants the government to look at the strategies published in Scotland and England

VAW chair Naomi Brightmore said: “The current draft strategy for Wales is not even specifically designed to tackle violence against women, includes no measurable targets or outcomes and is not a government-wide response.”

“In England, teachers in all schools will be better trained in order to help girls facing abuse and gender equality will be part of the curriculum.

“The public sector will receive guidance about tackling violence against women in the workplace, and local authorities will be given a stronger remit and better tools in order to commission better services for victims.

“The effort won’t be focused mainly on domestic abuse – but on all forms of violence, including sexual assault, stalking and harassment, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.”

The social justice minister, Carl Sargeant AM, said he was determined to do more to prevent violence against women and change attitudes following his recent appointment.

He said £300,000 for publicity campaigns and £250,000 for an IT system at Welsh refuges had been allocated on top of an extra £1m to implement the new strategy.

will focus on the wider violence against women agenda and include actions to address issues such as prostitution, sexual assault, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour based crime,” he added.

“The message from this government is clear – violence against women is not acceptable and we will do everything to tackle it.