Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015

Introduction

1 The purpose of this Act

(1) The purpose of this Act is to improve—

(a) arrangements for the prevention of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence;

(b) arrangements for the protection of victims of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence;

(c) support for people affected by gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

(2) See section 24 for the definitions of “gender-based violence”, “domestic abuse” and “sexual violence”.

2 Violence against women and girls

(1) A person exercising relevant functions must have regard (along with all other relevant matters) to the need to remove or minimise any factors which—

(a) increase the risk of violence against women and girls, or

(b) exacerbate the impact of such violence on victims.

(2) In this section—

• “relevant functions” (“swyddogaethau perthnasol”) means the functions under sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(2), 8, 10, 11, 15, 16(1), 17, 19, 20, 21, 22(1) and (4), but it does not include any functions exercisable under section 5 by a person who is neither a local authority nor a Local Health Board;

• “violence against women and girls” (“trais yn erbyn menywod a merched”) means gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence where the victim is female.