Today, the 25^th of November, marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence with White Ribbon Day. White Ribbon Day, is an incredibly important day for Llamau as we work to raise awareness of how our staff and services are working to #ChangeTheStory by supporting women and young girls who have experienced domestic abuse and violence. 

Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic that has serious and often deadly consequences. Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) states that an estimated 1.7 million women in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2022*. With 1 in 3 women experiencing violence against women, domestic abuse or sexual abuse in their lifetime. This is unacceptable, and domestic abuse towards women and girls needs to stop.

White Ribbon Day is an important reminder that we all need to be part of the solution to help #ChangeTheStory of those impacted by domestic abuse and violence. In 2022/23 Llamau has supported over 5000 women, children and young people through our wide range of Domestic Abuse Services across Wales and we are aiming to help even more next year. We offer support to those who need it through our Domestic Abuse Refuges, Gender-specific support and through programmes such as the IRIS. The IRIS programme in Gwent works to offer training, education and consultancy to health care providers with a robust referral pathway into specialist domestic abuse and violence services. 

We must act now by challenging attitudes and behaviours that condone violence against women and girls. Through open and honest conversations, speaking up when we see something wrong, and supporting survivors we can all help #ChangeTheStory and end domestic abuse and violence to women and young girls.

Support Llamau’s work to support women and young girls affected by Domestic Abuse by donating £25 now at https://bit.ly/LlamauWhiteRibbonDayAppeal

To find out more about White Ribbon Day and how you can #ChangeTheStory visit https://bit.ly/WhiteRibbonDay2023

*Data sourced from the National Statistics Website. URL link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2022. Release date: 25^th November 2022.