Annual Report.

May 2015

Cross Party Group on Violence Against Women and Children.

Jocelyn Davies AM (Chair).

1. Group membership and office holders.

Jocelyn Davies AM (Chair).

Peter Black AM.

Mark Isherwood AM.

Julie Morgan AM.

Joyce Watson AM.

Tina Reece Policy and Campaigns Officer for Welsh Women’s Aid.

Rhayna Pritchard Secretary. Researcher to Jocelyn Davies AM.

2. Previous Group Meetings.

Meeting 1.

Meeting date: 15 July 2014.

Attendees: Jocelyn Davies AM (Chair).

Mark Isherwood AM.

Peter Black AM.

Lynne Schofield, Welsh Government

Tania Williams, Welsh Government

Hannah Fisher, Welsh Government

Rhayna Pritchard, Researcher to Jocelyn Davies AM.

Angharad Lewis, Communications officer to Jocelyn Davies AM

Tina Reece Welsh Women's Aid.

Morgan Fackrell Welsh Women’s Aid.

Jackie Stamp New Pathways.

Jan Stoneman Hafan Cymru.

Johanna Robinson Survivors Trust.

Jennifer Dunne Equality Human Rights.

Elle McNeill Citizens Advice Bureau.

Sara Reid Children are Unbeatable.

Bernie Bowen-Thomson Safer Wales.

Summary of issues discussed:

The meeting discussed the Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill.

Questions were raised on the following issues:

· Funding.

· Education.

· Title of the Bill.

· Provision for children within the Bill.

· Training.

· Definition of victims.

Meeting 2.

Meeting date: 21 October 2014.

Attendees: Jocelyn Davies AM (Chair).

Julie Morgan AM.

Christine Chapman AM.

Rhayna Pritchard, Researcher to Jocelyn Davies AM.

Angharad Lewis, Communications officer to Jocelyn Davies AM.

Colin Palfrey, AMSS Lindsey Whittle AM.

Ellie Mower, AMSS Peter Black AM.

Liz Newton, AMSS Peter Black AM.

Jocelyn Robinson, AMSS Julie Morgan.

Sion Mile, AMSS Julie Morgan AM.

Sam Rock, AMSS Julie Morgan AM.

Tina Reece Welsh Women’s Aid.

Lucy Holmes Port Talbot and Hafan Women’s Aid.

Donna Marie Lowe Survivors Trust.

Johanna Robinson Survivors Trust.

Elle McNeill Citizens Advice Bureau.

Sara Reid Children are Unbeatable.

Paula Hardy South Wales Police.

Jan Pickles South Wales Police.

Bernie Bowen-Thompson Safer Wales.

Simon Borja Safer Wales

Ruth Allen Hafan Cymru.

Ruth Mullineux NSPCC.

Vivienne Laing NSPCC.

Summary of issues discussed:

Tina Reece, Policy and Campaigns Officer – Welsh Women’s Aid, gave a briefing on CPS domestic violence statistics. This was followed by an open debate on the group’s response to the Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill.

Areas debated were:

• The Bill in general.

• The content of the Bill.

• Government Advisor.

• Services for victims.

• Perpetrators.

• Definitions.

• Reasonable chastisement.

Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities with whom the Group has met during the preceding year.

Annual Financial Statement.

May 2015

Cross Party Group on Violence Against Women and Children.

Jocelyn Davies AM (Chair).

Group’s Expenses.	None.	£0.00
Costs of all goods.	No goods purchased.	£0.00
Benefits received by the group or individual Members from outside bodies.	No benefits received.	£0.00
Any secretariat or other support.	No financial support received.	£0.00
Services provided to the Group such as hospitality. All refreshments paid for by Welsh Women’s Aid.
15 July 2014	Refreshments for CPG meeting ordered from Charlton House.	£54.24
21 October 2014	Refreshments for CPG meeting ordered from Charlton House.	£54.24
Total cost		£108.48