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Shooting victim in domestic violence school lessons row | Shooting victim in domestic violence school lessons row |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A woman whose son was found dead weeks after she was shot by her estranged husband wants domestic violence issues taught in all schools by law. | A woman whose son was found dead weeks after she was shot by her estranged husband wants domestic violence issues taught in all schools by law. |
Rachel Williams was shot at a Newport hairdressing salon in 2011, after which husband Darren, 46, killed himself. Her son Jack, 16, was later found hanged. | Rachel Williams was shot at a Newport hairdressing salon in 2011, after which husband Darren, 46, killed himself. Her son Jack, 16, was later found hanged. |
But the Violence against Women Bill could fail in the Senedd because a duty on schools is not included. | |
Ms Williams said: "If you're taught respect and love you can't go wrong." | Ms Williams said: "If you're taught respect and love you can't go wrong." |
She wants the issues to be explored in workshops and assemblies in schools, as well as being part of some lessons. | She wants the issues to be explored in workshops and assemblies in schools, as well as being part of some lessons. |
"It might not be a subject like maths and English, it's your daily living. It's about respecting not just your partner but people in general," she said. | "It might not be a subject like maths and English, it's your daily living. It's about respecting not just your partner but people in general," she said. |
"You should be taught to take people's feelings into consideration and that this is the norm - as opposed to battering your girlfriend or getting spat at or talked to like a piece of dirt, as happened to me". | "You should be taught to take people's feelings into consideration and that this is the norm - as opposed to battering your girlfriend or getting spat at or talked to like a piece of dirt, as happened to me". |
Ms Williams suffered domestic abuse for 18 years, starting when she was seven months pregnant. | Ms Williams suffered domestic abuse for 18 years, starting when she was seven months pregnant. |
She finally left her husband and filed for divorce but he came to the salon where she worked armed with a sawn-off shotgun. She was shot in the knee and two customers were also injured. | She finally left her husband and filed for divorce but he came to the salon where she worked armed with a sawn-off shotgun. She was shot in the knee and two customers were also injured. |
Ms Williams is concerned that a proposal to teach issues around violence against women in schools is missing from new legislation. | Ms Williams is concerned that a proposal to teach issues around violence against women in schools is missing from new legislation. |
It was described by Welsh government ministers at the time as "ground-breaking." | It was described by Welsh government ministers at the time as "ground-breaking." |
But when the Bill was introduced in the Assembly last summer, the education proposals were removed. | |
Now, opposition parties have told BBC Wales that unless these proposals are returned to the Bill, they will no longer support it. | |
Because Labour does not have an overall majority in the assembly, that would mean the Bill would not become law. | |
Jocelyn Davies AM is Plaid Cymru's spokeswoman on domestic abuse and chairwoman of an all-party group on the issue. | Jocelyn Davies AM is Plaid Cymru's spokeswoman on domestic abuse and chairwoman of an all-party group on the issue. |
She said having "champions" for each council was not the same as all schools being duty-bound to teach healthy relationships and respect, which had been "universally welcomed" when first proposed. | She said having "champions" for each council was not the same as all schools being duty-bound to teach healthy relationships and respect, which had been "universally welcomed" when first proposed. |
"Once we saw the Bill and it wasn't in there and we were very disappointed," she said. | |
"I don't see the Bill achieving what it set out to achieve without it. Unless there's a change in attitude by the government I can't see me supporting the Bill." | |
A Welsh government spokesman said opposition AMs were aware that the minister was still considering what was possible in terms of additional education amendments to the Bill and discussions are ongoing. | |
"It is in all of our interests to make a success of this ground-breaking legislation, the first of its kind in the UK," he added. | "It is in all of our interests to make a success of this ground-breaking legislation, the first of its kind in the UK," he added. |
Pupils in schools are sending special Valentine's cards with messages to the Senedd urging a change of heart by ministers. |