On the first day of the Awareness Week, the Network have released a film with Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales, to highlight the importance of working in partnership to promote safe, strong, confident communities, and how the Network is invaluable to achieving this.

In addition, the Awareness Week will include a number of Coffee Talk and Lunch and Learn online sessions highlighting various topics within community safety, including violence against women and girls, safeguarding, and antisocial behaviour. The sessions will be led by various partners of the Network and will be an opportunity to showcase the good practice that is taking place across Wales.

It's not too late to sign up to attend the sessions and share the messages of the Awareness Week in your local area. Find out more about how you and your organisation can get involved here.

To find out more about the Network visit www.safercommunities.wales and follow @WalesSaferComms on Twitter for latest updates.

Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader, Newport Council, Co-Chair of the Safer Communities Board for Wales, and WLGA Spokesperson for Social Justice said:

“I am delighted to support the launch of the first Safer Communities Awareness Week for Wales. This week will be a great opportunity to learn about and elevate the fantastic work taking place in Community Safety across Wales, as we hear from a number of the Wales Safer Communities Network partners.”

Roger Thomas, Chief Fire Officer, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and Senior Responsible Officer for the Wales Safer Communities Network said:

“The Safer Communities Awareness Week 2023 is a unique opportunity to extend collaboration within Community Safety in Wales, bringing together likeminded individuals and stakeholders with a shared interest to work together towards the same goal to achieve safer communities across Wales. We cannot solve these issues as individual organisations and the future of successful Community Safety is dependent on collaboration.”

Mark Brace, Head of the Wales Safer Communities Network said:

“This is an exciting development for the Wales Safer Communities Network and demonstrates our ability to engage with multiple organisations across a variety of Community Safety topics. This is part of our ongoing support to colleagues working in Community Safety and highlights our value in supporting partnership working across Wales.”

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Today [Thursday 25th November] also marks White Ribbon Day, the beginning of 16 days of activism aiming to end violence against women, putting the onus on men and boys to call out abusive and sexist behaviour among their friends, colleagues and communities.

Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said:

"Let it be clear that it is not for women to modify their behaviour, it is for abusers to change theirs. The constant and pervasive effects of male violence and gender inequality have conditioned women’s lives for far too long.

"White Ribbon Day and its 16 days of activism focus on empowering men and boys to call out inappropriate behaviours, when safe to do so, and offer support. Tackling male violence, gender inequality and misogyny require action at both ends of the spectrum; we must support survivors and we must hold perpetrators to account but we must also create genuine behaviour change.

"Only then can Wales truly uphold a culture of equality and respect - something we all must carry forward to ensure every single person can live fear free."

Councillor Huw David (Bridgend), WLGA Presiding Officer said:

"Violence against women in all its forms continues to be a devastating scourge in our communities. It is shocking that two women a week are killed by a current or former partner and 10,000 women a week experience sexual abuse in Wales and England. We must all continue to do all we can to bring such heinous behaviour to an end. Local government remains wholeheartedly committed to working to see this ambition realised."

Councillor Jane Mudd (Newport), WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities said:

"Every year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women gives us all a chance to consider our actions. There are simply no excuses whatsoever to justify any such violence or abuse. I would urge everyone across all our communities to show their support by taking the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. Together, we can all stand up loud and proud and show that there is no place in society for such barbaric behaviour."

The Welsh Government’s Violence against Women, Domestic abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Annual Progress Report for 2020 to 2021 has also been published today, whilst a public consultation on how Wales can strengthen its National Strategy for the next 5 years is due to be launched on 7th December 2021.

This will include a focus on violence against women in the street and workplace, as well as the home, in order to make Wales the safest place in Europe to be a woman.

Cllr Susan Elsmore (Cardiff), Joint WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty said:

“We are committed to working with the Welsh Government and our communities to make Wales an anti-racist country. The Welsh Government’s Race Equality Action Plan is welcome in challenging our public bodies and wider society to do more. It demands leadership, it demands action and it demands change. We are committed to responding positively to this consultation to ensure we tackle racism and inequality in Wales.”

Cllr Mary Sherwood (Swansea), Joint WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty said:

“I am pleased that Wales’ councils have signed the Zero Racism Wales pledge, taking a stand against racism and committing to promote a more inclusive and equal workplace and society. The WLGA Council also recently committed to an ambitious ‘’Diversity in Democracy’ action plan which aims to increase the diversity of candidates and councillors at next May’s local elections. Councils have worked towards reducing inequalities but the Race Equality Action Plan shows that we need concerted, collective action as racism remains within our society and inequality continues to adversely affect the lives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in Wales.”

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For further information

The Welsh Government’s Race Equality Action Plan has been shaped by people with lived experiences of racism and has been constructed through engagement with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and other key race stakeholders. The consultation document is available here: https://gov.wales/race-equality-action-plan-anti-racist-wales