FORMER Welsh International rugby player Terry Davies has agreed to become a sporting ambassador to help fight domestic violence.Last year, Assembly Member Joyce Watson launched a Wales-wide campaign to recruit both current and former sportsmen to help make domestic abuse unacceptable.
Joyce, who represents Mid and West Wales and is supported by Welsh Women's Aid and Wales Women's National Coalition, was inspired by the White Ribbon Campaign which was started in 1991 in Canada and is aimed at men working to end men's violence against women. The founders decided that wearing a white ribbon would be a symbol to personally pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about domestic violence.
Each year, men and boys are encouraged to wear a ribbon for one or two weeks, starting on November 25, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. However, although White Ribbon Day is about men, it is mostly females - and women's aid groups in particular - that are involved in selling white ribbons and raising awareness. Joyce wants to get more men involved. Research has also linked sporting events as well as alcohol consumption with increases in domestic violence. *
Joyce has already recruited former Welsh rugby player Derwyn Jones, who comes from Pontardulais and gained 19 caps for his country as well as representing the Barbarians and World XV. Derwyn has taken part in a number of events to raise awareness of the issue including Wales Women's National Coalition's annual candle-lighting ceremony with First Minister Rhodri Morgan, at Llandaff Cathedral.
Terry Davies (75) , who lives in Bynea near Llanelli, won 21 caps for his country and played for Swansea and Llanelli as well as making 13 appearances for the Lions. He will meet staff at Llanelli Women's Aid on Monday (April 20) to talk about the charity's plans for the future including creating a one-stop shop in the town.
Terry said: "There's no place for domestic violence - it's completely unacceptable and the problem seems to be particularly bad after rugby matches."
Vicky Pedicini, who is project manager at Llanelli Women's Aid - an organisation that supports 300 women and children every year, said: “We fully support this campaign and are delighted that Terry has agreed to take part. Terry is very well known in Llanelli and it is important that we have these male ambassadors to signal to others that domestic violence and abuse is unacceptable, and we hope that he will help to create a culture in which domestic abuse is eradicated."
Joyce Watson, who has campaigned on domestic violence issues for a number of years, believes getting men involved is the key to helping to stop domestic violence.
She said: "Men often look up to their sporting heroes and if they can see that players like Terry and Derwyn can make a stand against domestic violence then that will help to change the culture."
Paula Hardy, Chief Executive at Welsh Women's Aid, said: "We hope by having male ambassadors it will show the crucial role that men and boys play in helping reduce violence in the lives of women. Harmful attitudes and beliefs in the community are a very important part of the problem of domestic violence, and tackling these attitudes will assist in building a community that is safer for women and girls’
Welsh Women's Aid can be contacted on 02920 390 874. It also runs a helpline for people suffering domestic abuse on 0808 8010800.
Wales Women's National Coalition can be contacted on 02920 478918.
*Home Office data, published in 2006, showed that domestic violence rose by up to 31 per cent on England's World Cup match days. Dyfed-Powys Police were called to 38 incidents of domestic abuse during the recent Six Nations
-
-
