Wales: Real men don’t hit Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights - male assembly members take a stand to Women's rights's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights

On 22nd November, Amnesty International and Unison are bringing male AM’s together to express their support for the campaign to end violence against Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights. Standing on the steps of the Senedd, each of them will be asked to wear a white ribbon, to symbolise this international campaign of men working to end men’s violence against Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights.

Violence against Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights can take many forms and has a pervasive, detrimental effect on the human rights of Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights in all communities. Surveys show that half of all Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights in the UK will suffer some form of violence in their lifetime. Whether it is domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking or other forms of violence, there are Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights across Wales who suffer every day.

Cathy Owens, Programme Director for Amnesty International Wales says:

“The shockingly high prevalence of domestic violence in Wales is something that men must come to terms with and act upon. It’s about time men stood up and said - that's enough – real men don’t hit Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights.”

“What’s worrying is that the results of an ICM poll published on our behalf this week shows that many 16-20 year olds in Wales are suffering from violence from their boyfriends.”

“That’s why we need to do something now – because the pattern is not changing, and will not change until men make that change happen. For that reason, I am delighted we have had such an excellent response from all the male AMs.”

“Wearing a white ribbon shows a man is pledging never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights. We must encourage men to speak out when male friends and relatives insult or attack Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights. It should become unacceptable, rather than the norm. After all – it’s their mothers, partners, sisters and daughters who are damaged by violence.”