Bawso in partnership with Welsh Women’s Aid, New Pathways, Unite, Safer Wales and Welsh Centre of International Affairs will be holding the annual, multi-faith Light a Candle event to mark the International Day to End Violence against Women on Wednesday 25th November at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
The Minister for Public Services Leighton Andrews AM will be the main speaker at the event. Also speaking will be a survivor of violence against women who will share her experience. Representatives from a number of world religions will read passages about non-violence.
The ‘Light a Candle’ event runs from 10.30am – 12 noon at Llandaff Cathedral. A march to the Cathedral will take place from the Bawso office 9 Cathedral Road CF11 9HA from 9:30am.
Mutale Merrill OBE, Chief Executive, Bawso, said:
“Last year, 1263 women affected by violence against women entered refuges across Wales. In the UK, 148 women were killed by men in 2014. It is clear that more needs to be done to end violence against women.
We are pleased that the Welsh Government is leading the Violence against Women and Girls agenda to prevent, promote and support those affected irrespective of where they are in Wales. We hope the implementation of the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 will improve the public service response to make a real difference in women’s lives”.
Eleri Butler, Chief Executive, Welsh Women’s Aid, said:
“This is an important opportunity for people from a diverse range of backgrounds to come together and unite in their call for an end to violence against women, which is responsible for the deaths of more than two women a week in England and Wales. The event is also a chance to hear from survivors about what it means to have faced, and overcome, abuse.
We are delighted that The Minister for Public Services Leighton Andrews is joining us to speak, after a year in which Welsh Government has made positive steps to combat violence against women, with the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 and the subsequent appointment of a new National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Rhian Bowen Davies.”
Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews said:
“The ‘Light a Candle’ event brings us together to make a very firm and public stand against violence and abuse, but most importantly it places the victims and survivors of these crimes at the centre of our focus.
“We should all be very proud of the progress which has been achieved by the Welsh Government and our partners in the past year. We have certainly built the momentum which is needed to make a significant impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society in forthcoming years.”
