One in every four women in Wales and England will experience domestic abuse by their partner or ex-partner at some time in their life.
To mark the International Violence against Women campaign from November 25, the Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership recently organised through its Gwynedd Domestic Abuse Forum, a conference aimed at raising awareness of domestic abuse issues.
The conference – held at the Glaslyn Leisure Centre in Porthmadog – was well attended by various agencies from across Gwynedd, including Health, Police, Education and the Voluntary Sector, and forms part of a much wider range of initiatives being undertaken by the Partnership across the County.
As part of the International Violence against Women campaign, white ribbon emblem has become the official representation of this initiative, and during the week members of the Partnership, including Gwynedd Councillors wore their white ribbons in support of the campaign.
Delegates heard a range of presentations, with frightening statistics showing that a woman is assaulted in her home every six seconds in the UK. Domestic violence is the largest cause of death in women worldwide aged 19-44. In the UK two women a week are murdered by a partner or ex-partner.
Opening the event, Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council Senior Portfolio Leader for Care said: “No one can afford to be complacent when it comes to the issue of domestic abuse; the figures indicate quite clearly that a large number of individuals within our community will be suffering from this crime.
“Speakers at the conference were able to show the range and extent of help that is available for those who need it, and I would urge anyone who feels they need help or support to contact the Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 80 10 800.”
