Gwent Public Health Team Champions Prevention and Partnership to End Violence Against Women

On 25th November each year, we mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.  

Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse, and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) are major public health and human rights issues which affect too many people in Gwent. For many reasons, VAWDASV can be a hidden issue, and we cannot truly know how many people are being impacted across our communities. We estimate that 38,896 people in Gwent experienced domestic abuse in the 12 months to March 2024, and that 126,897 (1 in 4) people in Gwent have experienced domestic abuse in their lifetime.  As many as 9,238 (1.9%) people across Gwent have experienced sexual violence in the last year, and a shocking 92% of Welsh female respondents in a recent survey reported experiencing sexual harassment in public spaces, including unwanted comments, gestures, and physical contact. Behind these figures are our colleagues, our parents, our children, our friends, and our siblings, and the impact can be devastating and life changing.  

In the Gwent Public Health team, we are determined to understand the scale of the issue across Gwent, as well as the numerous harmful impacts VAWDASV is having within our communities. We are dedicated to understanding how we can best support those impacted, and how we can work with partners to prioritise VAWDASV prevention. These are complex issues, and no single sector or organisation can solve them alone. There are many organisations and individuals who have been working to support victims and survivors in Gwent for many years. In order to progress this work, we have been working closely with the Gwent VAWDASV Partnership, with support from Our Voice Our Journey and  Mataio Taimalelagi Brown and Sarah Brown from the global movement She Is Not Your Rehab. Together, we will be shaping our Gwent approach to preventing these issues before they happen, and intervening earlier when they do.  

This week, to mark The Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are sharing a powerful message of allyship from men across our community. This message encourages men to Speak Up to raise awareness of VAWDASV and challenge damaging gender norms, sexist behaviours, and harmful comments. Beyond the White Ribbon Day of Awareness, we will be working with men across the Health Board to establish a network of allies who will continue to champion these efforts.  

We can all play a role in protecting our communities and building a safer Gwent, let’s start by Speaking Up #WeSpeakUp