{"id":68222,"date":"2022-11-23T18:21:23","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T18:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=68222"},"modified":"2022-11-24T16:16:26","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T16:16:26","slug":"big-sports-events-can-trigger-violence-against-women-vigil-for-survivors-told","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/11\/23\/big-sports-events-can-trigger-violence-against-women-vigil-for-survivors-told\/","title":{"rendered":"Big sports events can trigger violence against women, vigil for survivors told"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Campaigners at the Senedd event urge men to step up in the face of toxic and threatening behaviour <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

MAJOR sporting events like the World Cup can trigger a spike in attacks on women, a Cardiff vigil for survivors of domestic violence was told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 100 people attended the event at the Senedd, which took place as Wales prepared to take on the USA in their opening game of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research led by Lancaster University has shown<\/a> that domestic violence rates increase after sporting events, particularly if the offender’s team lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something quite chilling about this vigil coinciding with the World Cup, an emotional event that can lead to violence against women when the result is wrong,\u201d said speaker and Plaid Cymru MS Rhun ap Iorwerth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhatever the context, violence against women is never acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leader of the opposition in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, spoke of his wife\u2019s experience as a midwife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe dreaded to go in to work after the rugby when a woman was inevitably on the receiving end of the drinking,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event, organised by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes<\/a> to commemorate survivors of domestic violence, was held days before White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White Ribbon Day encourages men to step up in the face of toxic behaviour against women, particularly in sport. The campaign is supported by teams including Swansea City, Newport County, and the Cardiff Devils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour MS Jack Sargeant told men in the audience: \u201cYou can start by making the promise to never stand for violence against women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be bystanders. We\u2019ve got to recommit ourselves tonight,\u201d said Labour MS Joyce Watson, a long-time campaigner on women’s issues, who sponsored the NFWI event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was pleased that Wales is introducing an updated curriculum in schools to combat unhealthy ideals of relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe found children are more respectful the younger they are but when they get older, we start to see the influence of society,\u201d said Ms Watson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Barnbrook of White Ribbon UK told the vigil: \u201cWe don\u2019t speak of sexual violence in cafes, at the bus stop. My challenge is to ask you to talk about sexual violence with your family, your friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery often, victims feel they\u2019re the only ones going through this torture. It is not acceptable in the 21st<\/sup> century to have such numbers of domestic violence in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The Crime Survey for England and Wales<\/a> found almost six per cent of adults in England and Wales faced domestic abuse in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Justice Jane Hutt was keen to end the stigma attached to being a victim of domestic violence, which can hand power to abusers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of what the world may become if we were free of this violence. You are going to help us make that change,\u201d she told the vigil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ITV broadcaster Ruth Dodsworth highlighted that domestic abuse can happen to anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019d never have known that I was a victim of domestic violence; you can hide bruises with makeup,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruth’s ex-husband was recently released from prison after being convicted of coercive control in a well-documented case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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