Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice
I am pleased to announce the publication of the Annual Plan 2022-23 produced by Yasmin Khan and Nazir Afzal OBE, the National Advisers for Violence against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence. This is also a requirement of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.
Section 22 of the Act requires the National Advisers to prepare an annual plan setting out their ambitions for the forthcoming financial year. I have reviewed the annual plan and agreed to its publication.
The National Advisers have fully supported our ambitions to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence and to make Wales the safest place in Europe to be a woman. Their final annual plan continues to ensure that interventions are effective and that they focus on prevention, education and proper support and that crucially survivor’s voices are central to our response.
Earlier this year I agreed for the terms of office of the current National Advisers to be extended to July 2022 to provide much needed stability to our stakeholders and their service users as we continue to live through the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan will therefore cover the period of their remaining term.
I would like to thank the National Advisers for their invaluable expertise and advice throughout some of the most challenging times for victims, survivors and specialist services in this sector.