Written Statement: International Men’s Day 2025 (19 November 2025)

Today is International Men’s Day. This yr’s theme is Celebrating Men and Boys. 

The males and boys of Wales have quite a bit to be pleased with, and we have a good time their contribution to all areas of Welsh life. They are buddies, brothers, uncles, and fathers who play pivotal roles in our households, workplaces and communities. 

The Welsh Government is supporting males to understand the constructive modifications they wish to see. In North Wales, the ‘How’s Dad? Sut mae Dad?’ assist group goals to create a secure, inclusive house the place fathers can share experiences and obtain the assist they want. Bearhug makes use of modern bamboo expertise to supply high-quality helps designed to assist anybody, no matter age or background transfer and get well from damage confidently. With the assist of Big Ideas Wales, Jack Blundell has created the RouteBuddies free security app that enables customers to fulfill in teams of three or extra and stroll dwelling collectively. These three examples present a snapshot of the various and assorted methods wherein males are driving change throughout all areas of Welsh society for the great of others.

However, we additionally recognise that males and boys proceed to face many challenges and boundaries within the pursuit of secure, wholesome and thriving lives. Last month, I spoke at an occasion within the Senedd discussing the Centre for Social Justice’s report, Lost Boys – State of the Nation, which units out a few of these challenges. We are working to deal with these via a spread of actions together with: guarantee boys and younger males perceive wholesome relationships; equipping them with the data, abilities and methods to remain secure on-line; supporting males into coaching, employment and to study new abilities; and dealing to enhance the bodily and psychological well being of males and boys throughout Wales. 

Through our households and parenting programmes, we’re dedicated to supporting fathers. With a mixture of common and focused initiatives, fathers are empowered to take part totally of their kids’s lives and household improvement. 

In April this yr, we launched the Trailblazer pilots in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, and Neath Port Talbot to offer assist for these furthest from the labour market. In Blaenau Gwent, the Youth Service Gaming Project, delivered in partnership with GoConnect and the Social Gaming Network, gives each on-line and in-person gaming periods for younger folks aged 16–25 who’re at present economically inactive. 

This modern strategy is particularly designed to succeed in people, significantly younger males, who face social isolation and restricted alternatives for interplay, typically compounded by extra boundaries comparable to neurodiversity, subcultures, and identified psychological well being situations together with nervousness and melancholy. The undertaking has already proven promising outcomes, with the younger males reporting lowered nervousness, elevated confidence and shallowness, and improved social abilities. Looking forward, the undertaking goals to increase its’ impression by providing pathways into volunteering, additional schooling and employment. 

All too typically, the narrative round younger males and boys is targeted on negatives. Boys and younger males dominate in prison justice statistics. However, I wish to spotlight Dylan, winner of the Young Person award at this yr’s St David Awards, who reworked his life whereas serving a custodial sentence, aged simply 16, at HMP Young Offenders Institute Parc. 

During his time at Parc, Dylan gained teaching, mentoring, communication and teamwork abilities. He has additionally been a driving power in arranging new actions for the younger folks at Parc. Following his launch, Dylan secured a job as a trainee rugby coach and now works with different at-risk younger folks in the neighborhood. 

Dylan has confirmed that it’s potential to defy the percentages and switch negatives into positives when given assist to thrive. However, there are such a lot of different examples throughout Wales the place males and boys are forging a greater future, not only for themselves but additionally for his or her households, friends and wider communities. 

One of those areas is tackling violence towards girls, home abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV). Engaging males and boys as allies is prime to our efforts. Through the Sound marketing campaign, males and boys find out about all features of VAWDASV, mirror on unhealthy and dangerous behaviours and ‘Sound’ it out with different males. Aimed primarily at 18-34 year-olds via social media platforms, this focused person-centred connection has been celebrated by White Ribbon as a helpful strategy in partaking males as allies.

This autumn, a collection of our Sound Squad of males and boys will endure White Ribbon accredited coaching and develop into White Ribbon X Sound Ambassadors.  This will equip them with extra abilities and instruments to have constructive conversations round masculinity, VAWDASV and allyship.

We are additionally partaking excessive profile and neighborhood influencers as constructive position fashions. These embody drill artist, Sage Todz, who was nominated for the 2025 Welsh Music Prize and in a number of classes on the inaugural Black Welsh Music Awards held in October. For the Sound marketing campaign, he mentioned the affect of his relationships and perceptions of masculinity on his music.

I name on all males and boys to play their half in ending VAWDASV. Become a White Ribbon Ambassador. Use your energy and affect to name out abusive and sexist behaviour amongst your pals, colleagues and communities to advertise a tradition of equality and respect. I thank all males and boys which might be taking a stand and making a distinction. 

Men and boys are main constructive change throughout Wales. We will proceed to work, as a authorities, to sort out the challenges and boundaries they face to assist guarantee they will stay nicely, contribute to our communities, and fulfil their potential right here in Wales.