Senedd Cross Party Group on Human Rights

Annual General Meeting, online, 4^th July 2025, 2.30 pm by zoom

In attendance:

Sioned Williams MS (Chair)

Sian Gwenllian MS

Simon Hoffman – Swansea University (Secretary)

Adele Rose Morgan – HRSG member

Jane Fenton Williams – WAFW

Charles Whitmore – WCVA

Ele Hicks – WCVA

Welcome - by Chair Sioned Williams MS

Sioned Williams stood down as chair.

The following business was conducted by the Secretary.

Confirmation of Senedd Members of the CPG Sioned Williams confirmed the following members have agreed to participate in the Cross Party Group:

Sioned Williams MS

Altaf Hussein MS

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Mike Hedges MS

Election of Chair

Sian Gwenllian proposed Sioned Williams as Chair.

This was seconded by Adele Rose Morgan.

There was unanimous agreement.

Sioned Williams was formally elected as Chair of the Cross Party Group until the next AGM.

The remaining business was conducted by the Chair.

Election of Secretary

Simon Hoffman stood down as Secretary

Sioned Williams proposed Simon Hoffman as Secretary.

This was seconded by Charles Whitmore.

There was unanimous agreement.

Simon Hoffman was formally elected as Secretary of the Cross Party Group until the next AGM.

Approval of Combined Annual Report and Financial Report

The attached report was discussed. Jane Fenton Williams requested Wales Assembly of Women be added to the list of regular attendees. This was agreed.

The combined report was approved.

AOB

The Chair noted that the Cross Party Group had discussed holding an AGM in 2024 but this had not taken place. We resolved to note this with the Table Office and to apologize for the oversight.

Date of next meeting: members to be notified

The Annual Report and Financial Report 2025 follow on the next page.

Cross Party Group on Human Rights

Annual Report and Financial Report 2025

Agreed by the CPG at its AGM held on 4^th July 2025

Membership

Chair: Sioned Willaims MS

Secretary: Professor Simon Hoffman

Senedd Members:

Sioned Williams MS

Altaf Hussein MS

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Mike Hedges MS

Other members: the Cross Party Group is open membership, encouraging attendance and participation by organisations and individuals with an interest in human rights in Wales.

Meetings since the last AGM

The Cross Party Group meets online.

Since the last AGM the Cross Party Group met on:

· 17^th October 2023

· 13^th March 2024

· 3^rd July 2024

· 18^th September 2024

· 6^th December 2024

· 22^nd May 2025

The Cross Party Group focuses on issues of human rights in Wales.

Professional Lobbyists and Voluntary or Charitable Organisations

The Cross Party Group has not met with any professional lobbyists.

An invitation to attend the Cross Party Group is sent to members of the Wales Civil Society Human Rights Stakeholder Group where individuals represent voluntary organisations.

A number of individuals from these organisations have been present at one or more Cross Party Group meetings, including representatives from:

· Amnesty UK

· Children in Wales

· Shelter Cymru

· Disability Wales

· Churches Together in Wales

· WCVA

· Tai Pawb

· WEN Wales

· Bevan Foundation

· National Deaf Children’s Society

· UNICEF-UK

· Children’s Legal Centre

· Guide Dogs Cymru

· Wales Assembly of Women

Since the last AGM the Cross Party Group has received presentations on human rights issues from invited external speakers:

· Big Brother Watch

· Legislative Options Working group

· Bevan Foundation

· JustFair

And

· Gerladine Van Bueren KC

Financial Statement

The Cross Party Group has not received any income or hospitality in the period since the last AGM, nor has the Cross Party Group incurred any expenditures in the period.

Other support

The Cross Party Group Rights has received support from Senedd Translation Services (June 2025). The Cross Party Group is undertaking a short inquiry into human rights in Wales, in collaboration with Amnesty UK and the Wales Civil Society Human Rights Stakeholder Group. Translation Services provided translation of: a survey to be sent to civil society organization; and, information about the inquiry for survey participants.