Last night, the Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, Jane Hutt addressed a Reclaim the Night rally of students demonstrating against violence against women.
The Minister said:
"Women marched tonight as many have done before, to make it clear it is never a woman's fault if she gets raped or assaulted. It is the men who choose to assault us that are to blame, we are fighting for our basic rights, not privileges."
Jane Hutt has a long history of championing women's issues and was the first national coordinator of Welsh Women’s Aid in 1978. Other speakers at the rally included Shahien Taj MBE, Chief Executive at the Henna Foundation and Stephanie Lloyd, NUS Wales Women's Officer.
This rally followed a women only march through the streets of Cardiff: a demonstration against the daily violence and harassment that Welsh women experience on our streets. Students from all over Wales braced the cold evening to make a stance and reclaim their streets.
NUS Wales Women's officer Stephanie Lloyd said:
“Tonight we showed the streets of Cardiff and the whole of Wales that women have the right to walk the streets without the fear or reality of violence. I am very proud that the students of Wales have lead this march, and that so many other women choose to walk with us.”