15 women killed in Wales in last year alone
Domestic violence campaigner Joyce Watson AM today launched a campaign to say no to domestic violence in Wales.
On International Day to End Violence Against Women (25th November) Joyce Watson AM is asking people across Wales to join her in condemning domestic violence, and is urging them to wear white ribbons to show their commitment.
Joyce said: "I am asking men and women to stand up together to say a clear 'no'.
"It is unacceptable that 15 women were killed in Wales in the last year alone."
Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson hosted Welsh Women's Aid 'Face Facts' campaign in the Welsh Assembly, to dramatically show the effects of domestic violence.
Joyce agreed to be photographed wearing imitation cuts and bruises on her face in a special photo shoot to highlight the violence that women are subjected to.
Nationally acclaimed make up artist, Diana McDonald, who has worked on BBC's Casualty and EastEnders and ITV's The Bill, did specialist make up for her and other Welsh Assembly Members.
The photos will play a prominent role in Welsh Women's Aid's 16 day long campaign to end violence against women.
Joyce also lit a candle at Llandaff Cathedral as part of her ongoing White Ribbon campaign, in Wales Women’s National Coalition's sixth annual Light a Candle Ecumenical Service.
For over a year Joyce has run a Wales-wide campaign to recruit sportsmen to help make domestic abuse unacceptable, and has raised money for Women's Aid projects across Mid and West Wales through the sale of white ribbons.
After recruiting former Welsh International rugby players Terry Davies and Derwyn Jones as sporting ambassadors, the Welsh Rugby Union took up the idea, with the Welsh Rugby Union and the four Welsh police forces starting a white ribbon campaign to draw attention to the issue of domestic abuse during this Spring's Six Nations tournament.
Research has linked sporting events and alcohol consumption with increases in domestic violence. Police in Swansea said they were called to 51 incidents of domestic abuse during the first three rugby games of this year's Six Nations tournament. Officers said this had led to 12 arrests with three people needing hospital treatment. Police said 39% of domestic abuse cases involve alcohol and research showed that during major sporting events incidents of domestic abuse increase because people were drinking more (figures from Safer Swansea Partnership).
Dyfed-Powys Police were called to 38 incidents of domestic abuse during the Six Nations tournament, while Home Office data published in 2006 showed that domestic violence rose by up to 31 per cent on England's World Cup match days.
Joyce Watson, who has campaigned on domestic violence issues for many years, believes getting men involved is a vital key to stopping 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."
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. While White Ribbon Day is about men, it has often been women, and women's aid groups in particular, who have sold white ribbons and raised awareness. Joyce wanted to get more men involved.
Joyce, who 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.
International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women on 25th November marks the start of sixteen days of activism around the world to end all forms of violence against women and girls. The sixteen days end on Human Rights Day, December 10th which marks the anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
For further information on this and Joyce's other campaigns call her office on 029 20898614 or click on joycewatson.co.uk
Those wanting support are asked to contact the All Wales Domestic Abuse 24 hour freephone Helpline on 0808 8010 800, while Welsh Women's Aid can be contacted on 029 20390 874. Wales Women's National Coalition can be contacted on 029 20478918.
