Cyfarfod y Grŵp Cynghori ar Hawliau Dynol: 24 Medi 2025

• Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS (CSSJTCW)
• WCVA/Cardiff University Wales Governance Centre, Charles Whitmore (WCVA)
• Swansea University, Professor Simon Hoffman (SU)
• Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales, Elinor Puzey (EHRC)
• Disability Wales, Rhian Davies (CCW)
• NWREN, Professor Robert Moore (NW)
• Health Board Safeguarding lead, Ceri Harris (HB)
• Monmouthshire Council / WLGA,  Angela Sandles (MC)
• Oxfam Cymru, Sarah Rees (OX)
• Women Connect First, Menaka Kodur (WC)
• Cardiff University, Melissa Wood (CU)
• WEN Wales, Victoria Vasey (WW)
• Children in Wales, Sean O’Neill (CIW)
• Children in Wales, Frances Hoey (CIW)
• Children in Wales (Youth representative), Elizabeth Bartlett (YP)
• Children in Wales (Youth representative), Harvey Marshall (YP)
• Children in Wales (Youth representative), Mashood Ali (YP)

Welsh Government officials 

• Director, Communities and Social Justice, Amelia John (WG)
• Deputy Director, Equality and Human Rights, Lorna Hall (WG)
• Head of Strategic Equality Human Rights and Delivery, Sarah Canning (WG)

Planning

• Head of Human Rights, Katy Benson (WG)
• Human Rights Team, Karyn Pittick (WG)
• Human Rights Team, Danielle Burdett (WG)
• Human Rights Team, Amanda Woodrow (WG)   
• Human Rights Team, Stevie Powell (WG)
• Senior Anti-racist Wales Action Plan Convenor, Uche Williams (WG)
• Senior Anti-racist Wales Action Plan Convenor, Amy Grimward (WG)
• Senior Policy Manager, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, Suzanne Smith (WG)
• Special Advisor, Jackie Jones (WG)
• Senior Private Secretary, Emma MacAulay-Nolan (WG)
• Head of Civil and Administrative Justice, Chris James (WG)

Apologies

• Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Anna Mihangel (OPC)
• Independent, Elisabeth Velina Jones (IN)
• Cardiff University, Dr Emily Kakoullis (CU)
• Monmouthshire Council / WLGA , Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby (MC)

CSSJTCW welcomed Sarah Canning who has recently joined the Equality and Human Rights Division. 

The Chair of LOWG provided a progress update:

• UN Convention on the Elimination of all Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) review nearly complete; fieldwork is ongoing and competence assessment is being finalised.
• Initial UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (CRDP) analysis underway, with extra resources to speed up the progress.
• Weekly meetings are held. The target is to have first draft proposals by the end of 2025; finalisation of the report will continue into 2026.
• Arrangements for a meeting with the Equality and Social Justice (ESJ) Committee are being planned for late October or early November.

Action point: the Chair of LOWG to confirm the date of meeting with ESJ Committee.

International update

• UN Committee dialogue held on ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) and concluding observations were published.
• UK Government response due by March 2027.
• The UK Government submitted its Universal Periodic Review mid-term update to the UN Human Rights Commission.

Strengthening and Advancing Equality and Human Rights report

• Work is continuing to deliver on the Strategic Equality and Human Rights (SEHRP) plan and Equality and Inclusion grants.
• The ten-year draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan, shaped by a Disability Rights Task Force was published in May 2025. A 12 week public consultation on the draft plan was launched on the 15^th May 2025.

Justice Policy developments

An update on justice recommendations from the Strengthening and Advancing Equality and Human Rights (SAEHR) report, with a focus on realising the Thomas Commission’s vision for a devolved justice system in Wales.

• Key areas of work include youth justice and probation, with ongoing discussions reflecting the UK Government’s manifesto commitments.
• Preparations are in progress for a draft Bill to reform the devolved tribunal system, aiming to achieve modernisation and unified structures.
• The Welsh Government maintains active engagement with justice unions and intends to provide further updates as work progresses.

Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan implementation

An outline of the governance and implementation structure of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP), which has a focus on co-production and community engagement.

• The External Accountability Group, co-chaired by senior officials, oversees progress across 11 subgroups and 6 themes, including intersectionality and positive action.
• Regional conveners play a key role in facilitating local engagement and gathering intelligence.
• Key achievements to date include:
  • a refreshed leadership chapter
  • development of a maturity matrix to monitor organisational progress in anti-racism
• Challenges faced involve expanding external collaborations and addressing issues related to local government capacity and diversity.
• Future plans aim to:
  • embed anti-racist work more broadly across sectors
• Strengthen governance and stakeholder engagement. Concerns were raised about the need for stronger national leadership on anti-racism, with suggestions for clearer public positions on related issues.
• Anti-racism training resources, featured at recent Wales TUC conferences, were highlighted.

Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller community support

A detailed update on actions within the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities was given -14 actions are underway, shaped by lived experience.

Key initiatives include:

• enhancing culturally appropriate housing through capital grants and site provision.
• funding advice and advocacy services tailored to community needs
• piloting private planning advice to help families secure suitable land
• ongoing research is focused on identifying transit provision requirements to enable safe nomadic lifestyles
• a national training programme, co-developed with community members, is being implemented to improve cultural competence among local authorities
• Welsh Government guidance documents on site management and accommodation assessments have been updated following consultation with communities and stakeholders, reinforcing legal duties and promoting inclusion
• the reinstated stakeholder group now supports continuous dialogue and policy development with active community involvement

• The need to defend human rights during political challenges was emphasised.
• A Human Rights Congress is planned for Human Rights Day.
• A request was made for clarification and a public statement on Wales’s position regarding recent international findings on Gaza, with the response noting the matter had been addressed previously and ongoing engagement with relevant groups continues.
• Next meeting is scheduled for 14 January 2026.

Links provided by WG Officials from the chat comments: 

Universal Periodic Review: UK response mid-term report 2025

Written Statement: All-Wales Accessible Communication and Information Standards

Written Statement: Preparing for the devolution of justice

Delivering Justice for Wales 

LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales

LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales: Progress update

Draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan: 2025 to 2035