Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence: progress against the blueprint high level action plan 2025

This VAWDASV Blueprint Annual report provides an update on the progress made against the high-level actions for each of the 6 workstreams, which contribute to the Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence: strategy 2022 to 2026. 

The progress made over the last 12 months has also fed into the VAWDASV National Strategy Annual report for 2025, which will be published this autumn, demonstrating the strategic links to the VAWDASV National Strategy and its objectives. 

The workstreams contribute to the objectives of the VAWDASV National Strategy which are:

• Objective 1: challenge the public attitude to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence across the Welsh population through awareness raising and space for public discussion with the aim to decrease its occurrence.
• Objective 2: increase awareness in children, young people and adults of the importance of safe, equal and healthy relationships and empowering them to positive personal choices.
• Objective 3: increase the focus on holding those who commit abuse to account and supporting those who may carry out abusive or violent behaviour to change their behaviour and avoid offending.
• Objective 4: make early intervention and prevention a priority.
• Objective 5: relevant professionals are trained to provide effective, timely and appropriate responses to victims and survivors.
• Objective 6: provide all victims with equal access to appropriately resourced, high quality, needs-led, strength-based, inter-sectional and responsive services across Wales.

Action 1

Consolidate and enhance the evidence base on the prevention of, and response to, public sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based harassment in public spaces, and the safety of women and girls in public spaces, to understand prevalence, causes and effective interventions.

Update

• The workstream commissioned a second evidence review, ‘A systematic review of reviews: Online Sexual Harassment, and Online Gender-Based Harassment’.  The review was undertaken by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Hub Wales and was presented to the workstream. The online space has since moved forward at pace with the introduction of the Online Safety Act 2023.
• Various partners have contributed research and evidence-based reports which included Welsh Women’s Aid’s ‘No Grey Area’ survey report from Phase 2 which gathered data on the prevalence, impact, and responses to public sexual harassment in Wales.
• The recommendations from the reports will be collated into a central database for the workstream to utilise.
• The action to understand how legislation and other protective measures related to gender-based harassment in public spaces are currently being applied in Wales remains a priority. The workstream awaits the outcome of part 2 of the independent Angiolini Inquiry, which may request similar information from police forces and provide further focus for this work. The workstream are also exploring the feasibility of a primary research study to support this action. 

Action 2

Develop a preventative, whole-system approach to tackle public sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based harassment in public spaces, to increase safety and feelings of safety for women and girls.

Update

• The completed mapping exercise, developed in partnership with workstream members, provided an overview of existing initiatives across Wales that aim to prevent or respond to gender-based harassment in public spaces. This document is now available for use within the workstream and with policy teams. It is being updated to reflect ongoing developments and identify emerging best practices and gaps in provision.
• The workstream has continued to explore leveraging sport in Wales as a strategic tool to prevent gender-based harassment and violence, and other forms of VAWDASV, both within sports settings and in wider communities.  
• A scalable, gender-transformative approach is in development, in collaboration with key partners. Relationships continue to grow across Welsh Government with the Sports Policy Team, Gender Equality Policy Team, the Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union. Welsh Government VAWDASV Prevention Policy team are aligning with this through some football initiatives in Wales, which are working directly with young men and boys to challenge harmful attitudes and promote equality.
• Relationships with Transport for Wales have been established to identify new opportunities to co-ordinate and develop actions across Wales. Members of the workstream presented to an Accessibility and Inclusion themed Transport for Wales Design Directorate Away Day on the prevalence and impact of gender-based harassment in public spaces and gave recommendations for change linked closely with Transport for Wales’ mission: One network, one timetable, one ticket, one team.
• The Wales Violence Prevention Team in collaboration with universities in Wales, Welsh Government and the VAWDASV Blueprint Team have developed a framework, designed to support Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Wales identify need, plan and deliver interventions that aim to prevent and respond to Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV). The framework has been developed with reference to Medr’s Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030 and 2025 to 2026 Operational Plan and is aligned to the founding commitments of Strategic Aim 1, especially the commitment to ‘work with partners to contribute to eliminating discrimination, harassment, victimisation, gender-based violence and abuse.
• Workshops were held with Directors of Student Services and relevant colleagues from across universities in Wales where the framework was presented and discussed. The framework will be used to identify the current approach taken at an institution and act as a form of recording and reporting which will directly inform the action needed to strengthen their approach to preventing and responding to VAWDASV within their institution. The amendment of current guidance to align with the framework, action plans and regulatory approaches, is also being explored.
• Discussions with the Welsh Government Tertiary Education Policy Team and key partners, such as Medr, continue to focus on identifying further ways to enhance current efforts.
• The Welsh Government VAWDASV public communications campaign (Sound) focussed on addressing gender-based harassment in public spaces. The specific focus and brief for the campaign was informed by workstream members and wider partners. The campaign launched in February 2025 focussed on behaviours including catcalling, physical intimidation, and inappropriate touching. Championing a solutions-focused approach, Sound aims to educate men, alongside showcasing what men can do to be allies in ending the public sexual harassment of women in Wales. The launch included a Sound Run event with 10 mixed gender running clubs in Cardiff coming together to discuss public sexual harassment, with media coverage on ITV Wales, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Online, and S4C.

Action 3

To identify, develop and implement effective interventions that enable everyone in society to challenge misogynistic attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, in order to change the culture of misogyny and harassment that feeds abuse.

Update

• The Welsh Government funded Bystander Intervention Training Initiative pilot, Lead the Change, continues to be delivered. This 3-year pan-Wales pilot is being delivered by Kindling Transformative Interventions and Plan International UK and will include a full evaluation. This training will develop individuals' skills to enable safe bystander engagement to prevent or respond to VAWDASV and will support our aim of changing attitudes, tackling gender norms and toxic masculinity, creating a culture change and to further promote the unacceptability of all forms of VAWDASV.
• The Welsh Government VAWDASV Policy Team is working in collaboration with other policy areas to develop an educational toolkit, primarily aimed at supporting teachers, governors, parents, and carers. A section of the toolkit addresses the pressing issue of misogyny and sexual harassment experience by learners, reflecting ongoing concerns raised across educational settings.  

Action 4

To review and make recommendations for an equitable approach on the use of interventions and initiatives across all agencies and communities.

Update

• This action will commence once high-level action 1 is completed.

Action 1

Establish and maintain a robust evidence base, including capturing lived experiences of workplace harassment, so that we better understand the scale of workplace harassment and the actions which help prevent it.

Update

• On behalf of the workstream, Welsh Government’s Race Disparity Evidence Unit commissioned research on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women’s experiences of workplace sexual harassment in Wales. Findings are supporting the VAWDASV Blueprint, Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, and Fair Work programmes. The research has now been completed, and finalised report has been published, with findings informing workstream activity.
• Through collaboration with workstream partners, an evidence base continues to be established which the workstream is drawing from and using to identify future evidence needs.
• Engagement with partners continues to deepen understanding and enhance the workstream’s approach. Key insights from partners who have faced challenges, are implementing promising practise, and delivering innovative training have been captured through the public sector leadership conference series and continued engagement with partners. The conference series also sought to identify how leaders can best be supported to overcome challenges faced by workplaces and leaders when preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment.
• The workstream has a commitment to explore the roles and responsibilities of public sector regulators in tackling workplace sexual harassment. There is a recognised need for greater clarity around lines of accountability in addressing sexual harassment and sexist workplace cultures. As an initial step, a mapping exercise is being conducted to identify regulators of the Public Sector across Welsh Government ministerial departments. This will focus on the intersection between Public Sector duties and responsibilities related to preventing and responding to workplace harassment and promoting organisational culture change.
• Linked closely to this, relationships continue to develop with the EHRC to further understand their role as a regulator and how priorities from the EHRC Strategic Plan align with workstream priorities.

Action 2

Develop a whole system approach to support the effective prevention and response to workplace harassment towards women and girls and so tackle workplace harassment in all workplaces across Wales.

Update

• In 2024, the workstream launched a conference series for public sector leaders and key partners across Wales to address workplace sexual harassment. This consisted of a series of three events, held in South Wales in September 2024, North Wales in January 2025 and Mid/West Wales in July 2025.
• The conferences, organised in social partnership, aimed to equip leaders with knowledge and practical tools to foster safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces and support victims, survivors, and whistleblowers. The series featured experts in the field, organisational perspectives and survivor voices.
• The inclusion of survivor voice including from those on the Blueprint’s Survivor Voice Scrutiny and Involvement Panel, was central to the conference series. The Blueprint’s Survivor Voice and Scrutiny panel members also played a role in advising on the event's agenda.
• The conference series was also an opportunity to promote the legal duties in place, under the Equality Act 2010 and then the Worker Protection (amendment of the Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which came into effect on 26 October 2024.
• A conference report has been drafted to summarise the key insights, challenges and recommendations emerging from the series and to further inform the approach of the workstream.
• A strong partnership continues to build with the current Workforce Partnership Council for Wales to understand shared priorities and leverage existing framework to raise awareness and promote best practice to improve workplace and leadership responses to workplace harassment. 

Action 3

Use and enhance existing tools and levers to raise awareness, promote excellent practice and support active change to eliminate workplace harassment towards women and girls, and to improve workplace responses to all forms of violence against women and girls, domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Update

• Existing evidence-based resources that are designed to support employers to implement effective approaches to tackle workplace sexual harassment have been scoped by the workstream and collated into one resource to share best practise and practical tools. The resource has been regularly updated and shared throughout the Public Sector Leaders Conference series and will continue to be updated by the workstream. Options for long-term updating and hosting of the resource are being explored.
• A Task and Finish Group comprised of partners from the public sector, union representatives, leaders and survivor panel members, was established to explore the development of practical guidance for leaders, which will support robust internal governance structures to prevent and address workplace sexual harassment. The group met and work is ongoing to align any guidance to the governance and accountability mapping exercise being undertaken, alongside the upcoming outcomes of the Employment Right’s Bill.
• The workstream is exploring opportunities within the Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act (Wales) 2023 and how this could be used as a lever to increase protection from workplace sexual harassment. Work is ongoing to explore how guidance and codes of practice can be updated to include a focus on workplace sexual harassment. 

Action 4

Provide challenge and support for all organisations across Wales to go beyond their legal and other mandatory duties and to adopt exemplar standards of behaviour in the workplace.

Update

• The public sector leadership conference series was used as an opportunity to provide a clear Ministerial call for action for public sector leaders to go beyond legal compliance and be an exemplar of the standard of behaviour in the workplace in Wales. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip provided this call for action at all three conferences, made statements in plenary and this message continued to be emphasised at the VAWDASV Summit in September 2025.
• As part of the initial mapping of the regulatory landscape and lines of accountability for the public sector in Wales, opportunities to leverage existing structures and regulatory approaches will be identified to further support this action. 

Action 1

Consolidate and enhance existing evidence bases and needs analyses on perpetration of Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence in Wales.

Update

• Development of a directory of existing perpetrator services in Wales has been suspended following discussion with workstream members via a task and finish group.
• A report on the survey findings was published and shared with Partnership Board in July 2024 and included 10 further recommendations for future work.
• The workstream will revisit the development of a directory following work on producing the framework which is anticipated to be completed in March 2026.
• The all-Wales multiagency data dashboard work will be incorporated as part of the National VAWDASV Dataset which is being carried forward by the SWSA workstream. A first draft has been written by Alma Economics, who were commissioned by the SWSA workstream to undertake this piece of research which is due for completion in late 2025. 

Action 2

Develop a Wales-wide whole system approach for tackling perpetration of Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence that encompasses early intervention and prevention through to the criminal justice response.

Update

• The University of South Wales were commissioned to undertake a piece of research on efficacy of perpetrator interventions. The final draft was shared with workstream members in October 2025 with a view to being presented and signed off via Programme and Partnership Board in early 2026.
• Collaboration with the Sustainable Whole System Approach workstream is ongoing via the VAWDASV data landscape research work.

Action 3

Establish clarity on the responsibilities to prevent and tackle perpetration of Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence of all relevant authorities under the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act and other non-devolved public services.

Update

• This action links to the high level action plan, number 2 for the Sustainable Whole System Approach workstream. 

Action 4

Strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure public services are meeting their responsibilities to tackle and prevent perpetration of Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

Update

• Collaboration with the Sustainable Whole System Approach workstream is ongoing via the VAWDASV data landscape research work.

Action 1

Review existing practice to understand the current landscape for the implementation of existing guidance and delivery against statutory responsibilities under the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act (2015).

Update

• The report of the survey and seminar findings was shared with VAWDASV Regional Chairs and advisers, which will contribute to shaping the next iteration of guidance for VAWDASV regions.

Action 2

Review and refresh existing guidance for developing needs assessments as well as prioritising, planning, designing, and monitoring services to develop a whole system approach to sustainable commissioning.

Update

• The workstream has fed into the Welsh Government’s commissioned research into the existing VAWDASV data landscape. This piece of work will support determining the baseline for existing data and identify gaps to build a comprehensive national dataset. The first draft of the research was shared and will be finalised December 2025.
• A first draft of local strategy guidance was completed in August 2025, with further task and finish groups planned with stakeholders to refine and finalise the Guidance, which will be issued for formal consultation in the coming months.
• The VAWDASV Partnership Board instigated the request for a Summit, which was held in September 2025. The aim of the Summit was a call to action for the public sector to work together to meet the requirements of the VAWDASV Act 2015.  Our Survivor Voice panel members provided impactful presentations on their lived experience, providing powerful messages about whole system approaches and prevention policies being in place.

Action 3

Review existing procurement and grant guidance for Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence and other related disciplines to ensure equity, innovation and quality in the delivery of services and provision across Wales.

Update

• The workstream will focus on drafting Guidance for VAWDASV regions and robust needs assessment guidance, ahead of reviewing the procurement and grant guidance. 

Action 4

Develop guidance to ensure regional partnership structures for Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence are coherent and that the relationship between local planning, service delivery and commissioning is explicit.

Update

• Draft guidance has been developed based upon the comprehensive mapping undertaken last year and on feedback regarding the existing guidance, through the workstream and Regional Advisers.
• A strategic steering group has been established since October 2025 to carry forward the work on Guidance for Local Strategies.
• The new guidance will be consulted on in the coming months

Action 5

Develop a National Framework of Standards which will provide guidance on the requirements for good service delivery, set out minimum service levels, and articulate clear expectations for commissioning partners to commit to these Standards.

Update

• The workstream will prioritise the development of guidance as set out in High-level Actions 2,3 and 4 before proceeding with High-level Action 5. There is agreement that foundational work is needed before we are able to establish minimum service levels for commissioning partners to implement across regions.

Action 1

Consolidate, enhance, and identify gaps in existing evidence bases and needs analyses on the children and young people impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Update

• The second piece of work commissioned by the workstream, led by Welsh Women’s Aid was finalised and outlined the child voice mechanisms available in Wales. We will be using this information to engage with forums across Wales to determine if there is appetite for the voices of children and young people to help progress with the delivery actions of the workstream.
• Barnardo’s completed a project in the Gwent region looking at Operation Encompass and the support available in schools. They subsequently reported on their findings to the workstream in July 2025 and introduced their toolkit for schools. Workstream members have been encouraged to share the report and toolkit within their organisations and across regions.
• The workstream received early findings of the PhD research project on Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA). The research is due to be finalised in late 2025 and a further update will be provided to the workstream.
• Members of the workstream have volunteered to pilot the NYTH/NEST guidance and self-assessment toolkit to improve integration of the framework across the VAWDASV sector and improve engagement between Regional Partnership Boards and Regional VAWDASV Teams. Members will be feeding back on this pilot at the end of 2025. 

Action 2

Establish clarity on the responsibilities of all relevant authorities under the Violence Against Women Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act and other non-devolved public services to identify, respond to, and reduce domestic abuse and sexual violence experienced by children and young people.

Update

• As the workstream has not yet had opportunity to provide scrutiny against the Peer-on-Peer Sexual Harassment Plan, we have recommended that governance of this plan may be better situated elsewhere. The workstream will remain engaged with the plan and communication will continue via the relevant policy leads.
• The workstream is engaged with Welsh Women’s Aid and Bevan Foundation to understand the use and application of practice guidance for local authorities around No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

Action 3

Develop a Wales-wide whole system approach to meet the needs of children and young people impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence, encompassing maternity and early years through to adulthood.

Update

• Due to maternity leave, the Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA) research and co-produced knowledge sharing event has been delayed. It is now anticipated that research will be finalised by the end of 2025, and the event will be planned for Spring 2026.
• The workstream will look to gather information and evidence on priorities of children and young people experiencing VAWDASV in order to inform on future communications campaigns.
• The workstream received a presentation from CAFCASS Cymru on the Pathfinder Pilot in Wales and the improvements this has made relating to bring children’s voices to the centre and reduce trauma for victims of domestic abuse.

Action 4

Strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure public services are meeting the needs of children and young people impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence including services, responses, auditing, inspection, and grant monitoring.

Update

• The second piece of commissioned work with Welsh Women’s Aid was completed at the end of 2024; this included extensive mapping of child voice forums available in Wales, geographical area, topics covered and whether there is incentive to participate. Using this mapping and working with resources from the Children’s Rights team, the workstream will draft a plan for the Blueprint’s engagement with children and young people moving forward and to make recommendations for the future VAWDASV Strategy.
• A need was identified to update the VAWDASV Educational Toolkit. The toolkit provides primary, secondary and further education providers with a range of best practice materials to use within education settings. The update will be linked with the Whole School Approach, Peer-on-Peer Action Plan and the Relationships and Sexuality Education Curriculum, and it is anticipated that the update will be completed by the end of 2025.

Action 1

Consolidate and enhance existing evidence bases and identify the gaps to improve knowledge and understanding of the abuse of older people and the services that are available to them.

Update

• Knowledge and Analytical Services (KAS) within Welsh Government have been engaged with the workstream to determine research and evidence needs; this has included the identification of a bottleneck in services provided to older people experiencing VAWDASV, and a lack of referrals made by Social Services.
• An opportunity will be made available in early 2026 for a PhD student to undertake a review to aid in the evidence need of the workstream. This will involve an evidence review of the safeguarding roles and responsibilities for professionals working with older people experiencing VAWDASV.

Action 2

Develop a Wales-wide whole-systems approach which ensures clarity and cohesion between Safeguarding and Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

Update

• The task and finish group to review the use of risk assessments for older people in Wales met on a fortnightly basis between February and June to ensure pace. A collaborative, partnership approach was adopted to formulate an initial options paper, and subsequent final recommendation paper to the National Partnership Board which was presented in June 2025. The group made the recommendation, based on research, evidence and professional expertise, that a bespoke risk assessment process should be adopted in Wales. This would not only aid in risk assessment for older people experiencing VAWDASV, but also additional cohorts. Following endorsement from the National Partnership Board, the task and finish group is now scoping out practical next steps to how this work could be progressed, ensuring that key partners are engaged, and taking wider reviews into consideration such as the Home Office commissioned work with Safe Lives to review domestic abuse responses.

Action 3

Improve the availability and suitability of trauma-informed services for older people, adequately recognising their diverse needs, both for survivors and those who are perpetrating abuse.

Update

• Following the engagement with VAWDASV services, the best practice infographic was created, “How can we be more accessible for older people?” This was qualified by core workstream members and also shared with survivors for input. The infographic was then shared with the services that engaged in the semi-formal interviews. The workstream can further apply this infographic by looking at how it can be amended to suit different settings that older people interact with.
• After engagement with Dewis Choice survivors to inform on our work of being accessible to older survivors, Dewis Choice have completed a report including thematic analysis: “Understanding the Experiences of Older Victim-Survivors". This report includes case studies from different organisations across Wales and will further promote best practice when engaging with older people affected by VAWDASV. The report is currently being finalised and will be published following translation.
• The workstream will be looking at early intervention and prevention strategies, building on work completed by the Tackling Perpetration workstream. The workstream will also engage with a Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA) action within the Children and Young People’s Needs workstream, recognising that older people are often affected as caregivers to children or grandchildren.

Action 4

Prioritise and influence specific awareness raising campaigns to improve the recognition, knowledge and understanding of the abuse of older people.

Update

• The workstream has worked alongside Welsh Government and Cowshed to influence and complete a communications campaign focussed on older people. The campaign will be delivered via Live Fear Free and will be focussed on the behaviour of sexual violence, in recognition that many older people, and professionals, do not recognise sexual violence within older cohorts. The campaign will be delivered in November 2025, and it is hoped that it will align with Safeguarding Adults Week. The workstream will utilise the evaluation of the campaign to inform on future application and action delivery.
• The workstream continues to share and influence on external communications campaigns where appropriate.

• Panel members are integral across the Boards and workstreams and continue to be embedded cross-government, with recent interest from panel members with lived experience joining the Honour Based Abuse Leadership Group. Ensuring survivors are involved in Blueprint workstreams is a priority, but equally important is aligning opportunities with their lived experiences and areas of interest to ensure survivor voice is heard cross-government.
• The panel have provided valuable feedback and scrutiny on projects such as the Theory of Change and Data Landscaping studies under the Sustainable Whole Systems Approach workstream, as well as the efficacy research within the Tackling Perpetration workstream. In addition, they’ve supported the development of IDVA/ISVA guidance, ensuring survivor perspectives are embedded.
• Survivors have also played a key role in public engagement: 3 panel members shared their experiences at the VAWDASV Summit, and one spoke powerfully about her experience of honour-based abuse at the Public Sector Leadership Conference. These contributions have helped raise awareness and influence policy discussions at the highest levels.