CYPE(6)-23-22 – Papur i’w nodi 3

Ahead of the Plenary debate on the Committee report on Peer on Peer Sexual Harassment among Learners stakeholders were asked to submit their views on the response and in particular the recommendation that the Welsh Government rejected

Information received via email from NSPCC Cymru

As requested, please see below some thoughts from us on Welsh Government’s response to the inquiry.

NSPCC Cymru broadly welcomes Welsh Government’s response to the CYPE committee inquiry into peer-on-peer sexual harassment.

In terms of the recommendation rejected by Welsh Government, that peer-on-peer sexual harassment should be treated as an adverse childhood experience, NSPCC Cymru views peer-on-peer sexual harassment as part of a continuum of harm and a form of sexual abuse. We therefore feel that as a form of abuse, it is encompassed within the 10 identified ACEs. However, we do also welcome Welsh Government’s forthcoming ACEs plan, that will recognise broader adversities that may impact on a child’s life, including peer-on-peer sexual harassment.

In terms of the other recommendations, we are pleased these have been accepted or accepted in principle. Particularly Welsh Government’s commitment to a young person advisory board, which we called for in our cross-party group event, Time for Action on the intersection of peer-on-peer sexual abuse an online harm. We also welcome Welsh Government plans to support other forms of young person participation and look forward to supporting these efforts.

We are, however, keen to see a stronger commitment in some other areas. For example, Welsh Government has committed to recommendation 14 that they work with the young person advisory board to ‘gather and collate best practice examples of sex and relationships education’ but we would like to see young people involved in co-developing sessions for schools on the impact of peer-on-peer sexual abuse. We would also like to see data gathered on incidence of online harms reported to schools, in addition to the accepted recommendation five, that data on sexual harassment is collected in schools.