Plaid AM Nerys Evans and Jill Evans MEP in conjunction with Welsh Women's Aid will today be hosting an event at the Senedd to raise awareness of violence against women. November 25 is the international day for the elimination of violence against women (also known as White Ribbon Day) and to mark the date Nerys and Jill will be handing out white ribbons to Assembly Members so that they can wear them in Plenary this afternoon.

Nerys has recently called on the Welsh Assembly Government to fund an awareness raising campaign to challenge attitudes towards violence against women and at the event the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Brian Gibbons, will be introducing details of the campaign the government intend to run over the Christmas period.

Nerys Evans AM said:

"Wearing a White Ribbon is symbolic of a promise to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. I've been calling on the One Wales Assembly Government to fund an awareness raising campaign to challenge attitudes towards violence against women, both domestic abuse and otherwise. I'm very much looking forward to hearing what the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Brian Gibbons, has to say as the government has promised that they will be running an awareness raising campaign over the Christmas period.

"Today is an excellent opportunity to highlight this issue as domestic abuse and violence against women is not talked about in our society largely due to the fact that women do not speak out about their experiences. They somehow feel that they are to be blamed for being a victim and therefore the severity and incidence of the problem is largely ignored by most in society, as if it doesn't exist."

Jill Evans MEP, a member of the Committee on Women's Rights in the European Parliament, has long campaigned on this issue. She added:

"We have distributed white ribbons in the European Parliament on this day every year, and I'm glad to join the campaign in the National Assembly. This campaign is about creating a world where women and girls can live free from the fear of violence.

"The White Ribbon campaign is growing all the time. In Wales it now has the support of various sports teams, including Bangor City FC and Rhyl FC."

"Raising awareness is crucial, and I'm certain that all Assembly members will take the opportunity today to demonstrate their commitment to ending violence against women."

She said she was glad to see more and more organisations signing up to the campaign.

Diwedd/Ends.