Every July, a National Remembrance Day is held to commemorate the victims of forced marriage and honour based violence across the world.

To commemorate the day in Wales, Bawso organised a Dialogue Day, held at the Butetown Community Centre in Cardiff yesterday, to raise awareness of forced marriage and honour based violence and to highlight services available to support victims and reduce isolation.

Yasmin, who alongside Nasir Afzal, was appointed as National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) earlier this year, was invited to deliver the key note speech at the event and update on the work of the Welsh Government.

She said,

“We must start to challenge the ideologies which frame forced marriages and honour based violence. These are crimes, and we cannot ignore them.

“If we are to meet our ambition through the VAWDASV Act 2015, we require a societal culture shift. We must ensure we prevent this abuse of human rights where possible, protect those at risk, and support those who present themselves to services. 

“We recently published Our National Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Delivery Framework which outlines some of the actions we will take to tackle forced marriage and honour-based violence. This will provide solid foundation and signal the Welsh Government’s commitment to making the aspiration of Wales being the safest place for women in Europe a reality.”

Mutale Merrill OBE, Chief Executive of Bawso said,

“Bawso has been working with victims of forced marriage and honour based violence for over 20 years and since 2011, we have supported 585 people affected by forced marriage and honour based violence.  We are pleased to hold a Dialogue Day which brings together professionals, members of the local community and survivors of forced marriage and honour based violence to share their experience and to discuss services and support available to people affected by honour based violence and forced marriage.”  

Kim Ann Williamson MBE, who is the Inclusion and Community Engagement Officer for CPS Cymru-Wales, and co-chairs the Wales HBV/FGM Strategic Leadership Group said:

“Some of these crimes are among the most complex referred to the CPS.  Being part of the Strategic Leadership Group allows us to share good practice and support those who report such serious crimes from an early stage.

“We are working with the police, Welsh Government and third sector bodies to ensure cases are recognised, robustly investigated and referred to the CPS.”  

Annie James runs a dairy farm in Llandysul, Carmarthenshire and is a new entrant farming in partnership with her husband Liam and her father Clive. Teleri Fielden is currently farming at Llyndy Isaf having been awarded the National Trust Scholarship  in 2017.

The annual award was established in 2011 to recognise the contribution of the late Brynle Williams to Welsh agriculture, both as an Assembly Member and as a farmer.  This year the award celebrates the achievements of young farmers who have excelled on the Welsh Government’s newly established Young People in Agriculture (YpiA) forum and in preparations for its Future of Agriculture event in September.

Announcing the winner, alongside Brynle’s widow Mary Williams, at the Royal Welsh Show, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs said:  

“Brynle was passionate about agriculture and saw young farmers as the future of the industry.  He believed, like I do, in the importance of investing in their future so they and the industry continue to thrive.  

“Our newly established Young People in Agriculture Forum has helped us further develop a long term relationship with young people who aspire to be the future senior leaders of the agriculture industry in Wales.  It is particularly important as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead post-Brexit.

“All Forum members were considered for the award and this year as a first I have decided to present the award to two winners.

“Both Annie and Teleri have been enthusiastic members of the Forum, sharing with other members their personal experiences of establishing themselves within the industry whilst also contributing considerably to the arrangements for the YPiA Future of Agriculture event in September.  I believe they are both worthy winners of the award.

“I would like to congratulate both Annie and Teleri and wish them all the best of luck with their farming careers.”

Earlier this year a new £6m Young People into Agriculture scheme was launched to support new entrants into the industry.  During today’s event, the Cabinet Secretary announced that 94 people have progressed to the next stage and a new window for applications will open on 1 August until 29 August.

The Cabinet Secretary added:  

“Attracting new and young entrants to the industry has been a priority of mine since I took over this role.  Earlier this year we launched our Young People into Agriculture scheme, backed by £6m of revenue funding, and 94 people fully met the eligibility criteria.

“I will be opening a new window for applications on 1 August until 29 August to commit the remaining budget.  This a great opportunity for young people to secure a sizeable level of support to kick start their business and I urge everyone who thinks they are eligible to apply.”

The Minister’s first stop was at the Coedpoeth Youth and Play Project which has benefited from the Welsh Government’s All Wales Play Opportunities Grant to adopt a joined up approach to the delivery of play work and youth work provision in the local community.

One of the aims of the project is to facilitate more interactions between different ages of children. The project began simply with a small, donated shipping container for resources, but now a more substantial and insulated space is being provided for children and young people with more shelter and one they can call their own. This will also help to raise the profile of the project in the local area. More than 140 young people attended the project between April 2017 and April 2018.

The Minister then visited the ‘Take Five’ group in Caia Park which is weekly drop in session to support the perinatal mental health of mothers from the antenatal period up to the child being one year of age.  Within the group, the mothers have the opportunity to try new activities and experiences aimed at wellbeing. The group runs twice a week, with 90 per cent of families attending benefiting from the Welsh Government’s Flying Start scheme.

Following his visits, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“I was really pleased to visit the Coedpoeth Youth and Play Project and the ‘Take Five’ group which are playing a vital part in improving people’s lives in the Wrexham area.

“In Coedpoeth, children and young people are being brought together to participate in a range of valuable opportunities to play and enjoy their leisure time which will help develop their mental and physical wellbeing.

“The Take Five group in Caia Park is proving essential in meeting the needs of perinatal mothers with early indicators or who are at risk of developing a post-natal mental health issue.

“These programmes are helping strengthen people’s feelings of happiness, enjoyment and engagement which in turn build positive life experiences. Today’s visits really show the tangible difference Welsh Government funding is making.”

The Minister’s first stop was at the Coedpoeth Youth and Play Project which has benefited from the Welsh Government’s All Wales Play Opportunities Grant to adopt a joined up approach to the delivery of play work and youth work provision in the local community.

One of the aims of the project is to facilitate more interactions between different ages of children. The project began simply with a small, donated shipping container for resources, but now a more substantial and insulated space is being provided for children and young people with more shelter and one they can call their own. This will also help to raise the profile of the project in the local area. More than 140 young people attended the project between April 2017 and April 2018.

The Minister then visited the ‘Take Five’ group in Caia Park which is weekly drop in session to support the perinatal mental health of mothers from the antenatal period up to the child being one year of age.  Within the group, the mothers have the opportunity to try new activities and experiences aimed at wellbeing. The group runs twice a week, with 90 per cent of families attending benefiting from the Welsh Government’s Flying Start scheme.

Following his visits, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“I was really pleased to visit the Coedpoeth Youth and Play Project and the ‘Take Five’ group which are playing a vital part in improving people’s lives in the Wrexham area.

“In Coedpoeth, children and young people are being brought together to participate in a range of valuable opportunities to play and enjoy their leisure time which will help develop their mental and physical wellbeing.

“The Take Five group in Caia Park is proving essential in meeting the needs of perinatal mothers with early indicators or who are at risk of developing a post-natal mental health issue.

“These programmes are helping strengthen people’s feelings of happiness, enjoyment and engagement which in turn build positive life experiences. Today’s visits really show the tangible difference Welsh Government funding is making.”

The funding will be used to support the Partnership’s campaign ‘Working together to make farming safer’.

The Cabinet Secretary made the announcement as she met Farming Connect’s four newly appointed Health and Safety Mentors at the Royal Welsh Show.   The mentors will help individuals and businesses identify risks, eliminate hazards and reduce the risk of accidents within the business. 

The Farming Connect mentoring programme has been running for two years and over 100 farmers and foresters have already used the service, totalling over 750 hours of peer to peer support.

A tragic 144 fatal injuries to British workers in 2017/2018, with agriculture accounting for 29% of the fatalities.  Thousands more have suffered serious injuries and work related ill health.

Cabinet Secretary said:  

“Health and safety on farm is of paramount importance.  The Wales Farm Safety Partnership plays a key role in helping to drive down the unacceptable number of serious accidents and deaths that occur on the farms across Wales each year.

“I am therefore pleased to be able to announce £46,000 for the Partnership to promote the importance of health and safety through their ‘Working together to make farming safer’.

“Farm safety is a lifestyle, not a slogan.  We must not lose sight of the fact, as with any industry or business sector, workplace health and safety and any measures and costs associated with making the farm safe is an issue for and the responsibility of individual farm businesses.

“It has never been more important than it is right now for farmers in Wales to look at what is on offer from Farming Connect.  

“The Farming Connect mentoring programme has a track record of providing valuable support helping individuals and businesses identify risks, eliminate hazards and reduce the risk of accidents with the business.  I was delighted to meet the four new health and safety mentors at the Show today and hear first hand of their determination to spread the message about the importance of health and safety on farms.”