Nia Griffith MP has warmly welcomed the decision by the Scarlets to show their support for the White Ribbon Not in my Name campaign which seeks to engage men in stamping out violence against women and girls.
Earlier this year County Councillor Sharen Davies arranged for the MP, Joyce Watson AM and Cllr Tegwen Devichand to meet Jon Daniels, Chief Operating Officer of the Scarlets, to talk about the possible involvement of the Scarlets in highlighting international White Ribbon day on 25th November.
Commenting on the meeting, Nia Griffith MP said: “We were absolutely delighted with the response. Jon was very receptive, and came back to us with a firm commitment, and good ideas of how the Scarlets could show their support. He suggested highlighting the campaign at the home match on Friday 21st November when, as we now know, the Scarlets have a big match against the Glasgow Warriors. One particularly nice touch is that the players will have white ribbons printed on their shirts. This is a global campaign in which men take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women, and the endorsement of the campaign by the Scarlets will send out a really strong message to men that we should all try and stamp out violence against women.”
Jon Daniels stated: “The Scarlets take great pride in being a community club representing the values and aspirations of every member of the community. With our position comes responsibility and we felt it our duty to help highlight what is an unacceptable facet of society. It is an honour to support the Not in my Name Campaign and we would urge everyone to join us in standing up to the perpetrators of domestic violence.
Joyce Watson AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales has been urging groups, organisations and associations across Wales to pledge their support for the Not in My Name campaign. She explained, “We are asking men and women to sign up to the pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about men’s violence against women in all its forms. This game will be the very first in Wales in which a team has worn the white ribbon. I hope it will encourage others. It is a sad fact that following international rugby matches, whatever the result, there is a 40% increase in this crime. That is why this game is so crucial for the campaign.”
Cllr Sharen Davies added: “We are really honoured to have the Scarlets join in the campaign which is part of a huge worldwide campaign to raise awareness. Here in Llanelli members of the Llanelli Co-operative Guild and Women’s Aid are also organising a stall in the Elli Centre 10 am – 3pm on Tuesday 18th November and Wednesday 19th November to get out the message about tackling the issue of violence against women.”
Cllr Tegwen Devichand, Carmarthenshire’s Executive Board member for housing and Chair of Llanelli Women’s Co-operative Guild added, “ Domestic violence in the UK is estimated to cost victims, services and the state a total of around £23 billion a year. Although we have come a long way in recognising the problem from 30 years ago when we had to struggle to get women’s refuges established, domestic violence remains a huge problem affecting one in four women and girls, and resulting in the deaths in England and Wales of two women a week, and we must do all we can to combat violence against women and girls.”