Commentary on Sections Section 3 – Duty to prepare, publish and review a national strategy
7.The Welsh Ministers are required by this section to prepare, publish and periodically review a strategy setting out how they will work towards achieving the purpose of the Act. The strategy must specify objectives which the Welsh Ministers, in exercising their functions, will have to take all reasonable steps to achieve (see section 4). The national strategy will set out the steps the Welsh Ministers propose to take to tackle gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
8.In line with the purpose of the Act, the objectives specified in the national strategy and the actions identified to achieve those objectives must focus on prevention, protection and support and will specify actions that will be taken by the Welsh Ministers. Objectives specified in respect of prevention could include awareness raising campaigns, educational initiatives or programmes aimed at the rehabilitation of perpetrators. In respect of protection and support, objectives may cover actions proposed by the Welsh Ministers to support the early identification of victims through the implementation of a national training programme for staff working within the public sector in Wales (such as local authorities and Local Health Boards) who work directly with the public.
9.The persons consulted by the Welsh Ministers before publication of the first national strategy and in revising the national strategy (see subsection (7)) are likely to include local authorities and Local Health Boards: these bodies are required to have regard to the national strategy in preparing and reviewing their local strategy (see section 7). Other likely consultees are organisations whose activities are capable of contributing to the pursuit of the purpose of the Act; for example, police and crime commissioners and providers of probation services.