Wales Online reports that a Plaid Cymru Senedd member, Mabon ap Gwynfor, has expressed concerns about the impact of Donald Trump’s election on domestic abuse against women and girls. According to the Senedd MS, the election of President Trump is likely to worsen the situation. During a Senedd debate, ap Gwynfor highlighted that Welsh police had reported over 45,000 cases of domestic abuse in 2022/23, along with nearly 10,000 sexual offences in the previous year, with many cases going unrecorded.
Contrary to the belief that domestic abuse is limited to urban areas, the Senedd member pointed out that rural Wales is not exempt from such issues. He revealed that rates of domestic abuse in north Wales are even higher than those in London, and sexual crimes in north Wales are comparable to cities like Greater Manchester, despite the difference in population size. Moreover, ap Gwynfor expressed concerns about the impact of misogynistic attitudes following the US election, stating that it could make such behaviours more acceptable.
The debate also shed light on the disparity in support services across different regions of Wales. Victims in Cardiff and Merthyr reportedly wait up to a year for support, while those in Swansea receive assistance in just four months. Ap Gwynfor questioned the justification behind such discrepancies, referring to it as a “postcode lottery” that dictates the level of trauma support victims receive. He highlighted alarming statistics related to child victims in north Wales compared to London, emphasizing the urgent need for addressing these issues at a more local level.
In response to the debate, Labour’s Joyce Watson announced plans for a vigil outside the Senedd on November 25 to mark White Ribbon Day, dedicated to ending violence against women and children. She reiterated her party’s commitment to reducing violence against women and girls by half over the next decade and called for additional funding from Westminster to support these efforts in Wales. Meanwhile, Wales’ social justice secretary, Jane Hutt, acknowledged the progress made in tackling violence against women and girls but emphasized the need for further action.
Hutt highlighted chilling statistics indicating that two million women in the UK fall victim to male violence annually. She described domestic violence as a national emergency, with one woman losing her life to male violence every three days and a 37% increase in recorded offences over the past five years. Hutt commended the Live Fear Free helpline, celebrating its 20th anniversary and underscoring the critical role it plays in supporting victims. She also mentioned addressing failures in the justice system during discussions with UK Government representatives.
Overall, the debate in the Senedd highlighted the urgent need for action to combat domestic abuse and violence against women and children in Wales. The concern over the potential exacerbation of these issues following the US presidential election calls for increased awareness, support, and resources to protect vulnerable individuals in society. With calls for devolution and additional funding to tackle these challenges, there is a collective push towards creating a safer and more supportive environment for victims of abuse across Wales.