Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care
Today, I am announcing Wales’s first national ten‑year Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse, alongside a three‑year Delivery Plan which sets out how this work will be taken forward.
Child sexual abuse can cause deep and lasting harm. It can affect a person’s health, confidence, relationships, education and future opportunities. The impact is felt not only by the child, but by families, communities and society. This is why preventing abuse and supporting those who have experienced remains a priority for the Welsh Government.
This new Strategy brings public services, specialist organisations and communities and, most importantly, places children, young people and adult survivors at its heart. It sets out how we will work collectively to prevent abuse from occurring, protect children who are at risk, and ensure that survivors receive the care and support they need.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to those with lived experience who helped shape this work. Their courage and openness have been central to the development of the Strategy, and their voices will continue to inform its implementation.
This is an ambitious Strategy, but such ambition is essential if we are to achieve meaningful and lasting change. Our shared aim is for every child in Wales to feel safe, supported and able to thrive.
I would like to thank all the organisations and professionals who contributed to developing this Strategy and Delivery Plan. Your dedication and partnership will be essential as we move forward.
Together, we can continue to build a safer Wales for every child.