English: I recognise that some of the ideas we'll discuss are relatively new concepts in the UK, but I believe that they form part of a crucial potential revolution in how we treat children and how we can support children, many of whom will be in a place of abject despair and trauma. My motion focuses on three primary points: how we can work with police to produce better outcomes as part of the Barnahus model; how we can provide an increase in provision and ensure the multiple levels of support and assessment are in one place; and how we can offer a refuge for children in need. The Barnahus model was launched in Iceland in 1998 as a direct response to some of the same problems that we see in many other countries, including our own: conviction rates lower than they should be; children not feeling safe enough or not being supported enough to come forward; children worried about repercussions if they did come forward; children in a place of deep trauma, without the kind of necessary supportive environment absolutely essential to help someone vulnerable in a very dark place to open up. The Barnahus model, or 'child house', as it is translated directly, has been a success story. The services are therapeutic-led, with trained professionals leading a safe environment designed with children in mind. And the Barnahus acts as a one-place suite for services. These include the forensic interview, medical examination and child and family therapy. Witness testimony against an abuser can also be given without the need for a victim to give multiple testimonies in multiple settings. Many victims of child sex abuse often do not have a particularly good view of statutory services and, in some cases, do not have the best direct experiences either. Many child sex abuse victims have not been a victim of just one kind of abuse. A lot of children will also have potentially fallen into difficulties with authorities for varied reasons, often related to the abuses they have suffered, and will not have confidence or ease in talking to police or authorities. When a victim does come forward, it's more common than not that, under the current system, prosecution will not be successful. There are regular instances of evidentiary requirements not being met, and often this is intertwined with children not meeting the common expectations for witnesses. Due to the stress and trauma of the settings in which a child victim is required to give evidence or dropping out of the process at some point after it's started, for myriad reasons, this is not surprising. The well-being of a child is also placed in jeopardy, as the re-traumatising effect of multiple interviews across different authorities is poor practice, yet it is an accepted practice. It's one reason why the time taken to bring a charge in CSA cases is significantly longer than for adults. A clinical psychologist-led interview process in one room, where courts can listen and ask questions live, is a better model, and it's supported by authorities across this country, which are encouraging this model to be tried, including the former Home Secretary, Amber Rudd. So, working with the police on this is essential, and this is within our competence. The Children's Commissioner for England, for example, has already teamed up, to trial the model, with some police services in England, and urged each police force area to establish the model by 2016. I think there's little reason why Wales shouldn't or couldn't do the very same. Of course this would require potential investment, and I'm not suggesting that the current model of sexual assault referral centres be scrapped completely in favour of something brand new. That's not what I'm saying here today. The current work of SARCs, in partnership with regional safeguarding boards, could be built upon where they currently work well, or the Barnahus could be established in some areas of the country where there is a significant lack of provision at the moment. And that's something that third sector bodies have raised with me as a result of this legislative proposal being chosen. We have to do better here in Wales. I appreciate that policing is not directly devolved, however this system of assessment, support and interviews all under one roof is already available in pilot centres in London, and police and crime commissioners can be worked with on this agenda. In fact, the PCC for north Wales has already expressed to me his willingness to support a similar model here in Wales. This is a model that has been successful. It's been applied across the Nordic countries, where substantial improvements have been witnessed. Conviction rates doubled in Iceland, and the time taken to complete assessments and investigations lowered dramatically. This model has been adopted in parts of the US and Canada as child advocacy centres from the 1980s, and there is a movement across Europe for this to be rolled out. So, I personally don't accept the view that this is an idea that would need a substantial level of work to investigate, or adaptations, in order to find a suitable model for Wales. Sometimes it's appropriate to follow international best practice and to do so immediately. Sorry to quote the commissioner for England again, but, I quote: 'Experiences in Sweden, Norway and Denmark demonstrate that the model can be adapted and implemented within the legal framework of another country, without compromising the core principles which deliver such impressive results.' So, we wouldn't need to compromise anything we are currently doing. I was very keen when submitting this motion that it should include a discussion regarding safe houses and refuge accommodation. If a child turns up to a police station or makes an allegation to a teacher regarding a parent, guardian or family member sexually abusing them, then I believe it right that there is a safe space and accommodation available for that child to go to be supported whilst waiting for the statutory process to go into effect or to wait for the appropriate foster care options. At the moment, local authorities have the power to issue emergency care orders and for children to go into foster care, but I don't believe that this should be the only option. Although there are excellent networks of foster carers across the country who do sterling work in this area, there is also a shortage of foster carers. In 2018 it was noted that Wales faced a shortfall of over 500; across the UK, it was estimated by the Fostering Network that 8,000 were needed to fill the gaps in provision. When a child is placed in an emergency foster care situation, there is also no guarantee that the family will have specific experience of dealing with children with sexual abuse, although I appreciate that they would hope to be able to deal with that in the most appropriate way. That child would often be placed in a temporary situation, before moving on to a foster carer with, hopefully, more experience with that particular background in mind. But the specialist care and support would not necessarily be available immediately. Women's Aid has supported the calls for safe houses for children because there is a postcode lottery for children in many cases, and because the specialist support and environment available to a woman who enters a women's refuge are incredibly important. That same supportive and specialist environment should be available to a vulnerable child, even if only as a short-term option. As I said earlier, the petition calling for child houses in Wales was brought by a Swansea constituent of mine, Mayameen Meftahi, who herself suffered from abuse and ran away from home but was returned to an abusive household - that's something that she never wants to see happen to anybody else. She has called for child safe houses because the reality of the pressures of the trauma on the child facing up and coming forward with an experience as harrowing as this is absolutely enormous - we can't underestimate the experience that child will have to go through. Will they be believed? Will someone listen to them? Will they face the prospect of having to return home? Will someone in the family convince them to retract that particular allegation? We've seen it happen. We've seen it in the news - we've seen these stories and we don't want to see them again. The option of a refuge setting, where a child can get support to deal with these issues and decisions, is an option worth investigating. Let's not forget that there are big decisions and a very big process forced onto the shoulders of a very vulnerable child. I'm prepared to listen to the Government and other Members on the practicalities of setting up options such as this, and to what extent joint working across statutory agencies and appropriate third sector partners could mean. I'm encouraged by the Welsh children's commissioner's words that she would welcome engagement on how best to approach the setting up of a safe space or refuge, and how that could work. I know that there is a piece of work under way at the moment into this particular model in London - it's called the Lighthouse project. But even though that review is underway, that doesn't stop us from adopting it here - it has been working successfully there so far. Just to finish, I would genuinely encourage the Government to support this motion today as part of a wider suite of ways to reform the system for the better. We know that this is a very sensitive area, but we also know that those who have experienced abuse are sometimes best placed to tell us what needs to happen, and in this case I think that's right.
Welsh: Rwy'n cydnabod bod rhai o'r syniadau y byddwn yn eu trafod yn gysyniadau cymharol newydd yn y DU, ond credaf eu bod yn rhan o chwyldro hanfodol posibl yn y ffordd yr ydym yn trin plant a sut y gallwn gynorthwyo plant, y bydd llawer ohonynt mewn lle truenus o anobaith a thrawma. Mae fy nghynnig yn canolbwyntio ar dri phwynt sylfaenol: sut y gallwn weithio gyda'r heddlu i gynhyrchu canlyniadau gwell fel rhan o'r model Barnahus; sut y gallwn sicrhau cynnydd yn y ddarpariaeth a sicrhau'r lefelau lluosog o gymorth ac asesiad mewn un man; a sut y gallwn gynnig lloches i blant mewn angen. Lansiwyd model Barnahus yng Ngwlad yr Iâ yn 1998 fel ymateb uniongyrchol i rai o'r un problemau a welwn mewn llawer o wledydd eraill, gan gynnwys ein gwlad ni: cyfraddau euogfarnau is nag y dylent fod; plant nad ydynt yn teimlo'n ddigon diogel neu heb eu cefnogi ddigon i roi gwybod; plant yn poeni am y canlyniadau pe baent yn rhoi gwybod; plant mewn trawma dwfn, heb y math o amgylchedd cefnogol sy'n gwbl angenrheidiol i helpu rhywun sy'n agored i niwed ac mewn lle tywyll iawn i ddweud beth sy'n digwydd. Mae model Barnahus, neu 'tŷ plentyn', fel y mae'n cyfieithu'n uniongyrchol, wedi bod yn llwyddiant. Maent yn wasanaethau dan arweiniad therapiwtig, gyda gweithwyr proffesiynol hyfforddedig yn arwain amgylchedd diogel wedi'i gynllunio i fod yn ystyriol o blant. Ac mae'r Barnahus yn gweithredu fel ystafelloedd mewn un lle ar gyfer gwasanaethau. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys y cyfweliad fforensig, archwiliad meddygol a therapi plant a theuluoedd. Gellir rhoi tystiolaeth tyst yn erbyn y sawl sy'n cam-drin heb fod angen i ddioddefwr roi tystiolaeth sawl gwaith mewn nifer o leoliadau. Yn aml, ni fydd gan lawer o blant sy'n cael eu cam-drin ddarlun arbennig o dda o'r gwasanaethau statudol ac mewn rhai achosion, nid ydynt wedi cael y profiadau uniongyrchol gorau ychwaith. Bydd llawer o blant sydd wedi cael eu cam-drin yn rhywiol wedi cael eu cam-drin mewn ffyrdd eraill hefyd. Bydd llawer o blant wedi bod mewn trafferthion gydag awdurdodau hefyd o bosibl am resymau amrywiol, yn aml yn gysylltiedig â'r cam-drin y maent wedi'i ddioddef, ac ni fydd ganddynt hyder i siarad yn rhwydd â'r heddlu neu'r awdurdodau. Pan fydd plentyn yn rhoi gwybod beth sydd wedi digwydd, yn amlach na heb, o dan y system bresennol, ni fydd erlyniad yn llwyddiannus. Ceir achosion rheolaidd o fethu cydymffurfio â gofynion tystio, ac yn aml mae hyn yn cydblethu â methiant plant i fodloni disgwyliadau cyffredin ar gyfer tystion. Oherwydd straen a thrawma'r lleoliadau y mae disgwyl i blentyn sydd wedi cael eu cam-drin roi tystiolaeth ynddynt neu am eu bod yn rhoi'r gorau i'r broses ar ryw adeg wedi iddi gychwyn, am lu o resymau, nid yw hyn yn syndod. Hefyd rhoddir lles plentyn mewn perygl, gan fod effaith cyfweliadau lluosog yn ail-greu trawma ar draws gwahanol awdurdodau yn arfer gwael, ac eto mae'n arfer sy'n cael ei dderbyn. Dyna un rheswm pam y mae'r amser y mae'n ei gymryd i gyflwyno cyhuddiad mewn achosion asiantaeth cynnal plant gryn dipyn yn hwy nag ar gyfer oedolion. Mae proses gyfweld dan arweiniad seicolegydd clinigol mewn un ystafell, lle gall llysoedd wrando a gofyn cwestiynau'n fyw, yn fodel gwell, ac fe'i cefnogir gan awdurdodau ledled y wlad hon, sy'n annog treialu'r model hwn, gan gynnwys y cyn Ysgrifennydd Cartref, Amber Rudd. Felly, mae gweithio gyda'r heddlu ar hyn yn hanfodol, ac mae o fewn ein cymhwysedd. Mae Comisiynydd Plant Lloegr, er enghraifft, eisoes wedi ymuno gyda gwasanaethau heddlu yn Lloegr i dreialu'r model, ac wedi annog pob ardal heddlu i sefydlu'r model erbyn 2016. Credaf nad oes fawr o reswm pam na ddylai neu na allai Cymru wneud yr un peth. Wrth gwrs byddai hyn yn galw am fuddsoddiad posibl, ac nid wyf yn awgrymu y dylid cael gwared yn llwyr ar y model presennol o ganolfannau atgyfeirio ymosodiadau rhywiol o blaid rhywbeth newydd sbon. Nid dyna rwy'n ei ddweud yma heddiw. Gellid adeiladu ar waith presennol y canolfannau atgyfeirio ymosodiadau rhywiol mewn partneriaeth â byrddau diogelu rhanbarthol lle maent yn gweithio'n dda ar hyn o bryd, neu gellid sefydlu'r Barnahus mewn rhai ardaloedd o'r wlad lle mae'r ddarpariaeth yn brin iawn ar hyn o bryd. Ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae cyrff trydydd sector wedi'i ddwyn i fy sylw o ganlyniad i ddewis y cynnig deddfwriaethol hwn. Rhaid inni wneud yn well yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n sylweddoli nad yw plismona wedi'i ddatganoli'n uniongyrchol, ond mae'r system hon o asesu, cefnogi a chyfweliadau i gyd o dan un to eisoes ar gael mewn canolfannau peilot yn Llundain, a gellir gweithio gyda chomisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu ar yr agenda hon. Yn wir, mae'r comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu ar gyfer gogledd Cymru eisoes wedi mynegi ei barodrwydd i gefnogi model tebyg yma yng Nghymru. Mae hwn yn fodel sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus. Cafodd ei ddefnyddio ar draws y gwledydd Llychlynnaidd, lle gwelwyd gwelliannau sylweddol. Dyblodd cyfraddau euogfarnau yng Ngwlad yr Iâ, a gwelwyd gostyngiad dramatig yn yr amser a gymerir i gwblhau asesiadau ac ymchwiliadau. Mabwysiadwyd y model hwn mewn rhannau o'r UDA a Chanada fel canolfannau eiriolaeth plant o'r 1980au, ac mae ymgyrch ledled Ewrop i weld hyn yn cael ei gyflwyno. Felly, yn bersonol nid wyf yn derbyn y farn fod hwn yn syniad sy'n galw am lefel sylweddol o waith archwilio, neu gael addasiadau, er mwyn dod o hyd i fodel addas ar gyfer Cymru. Weithiau mae'n briodol dilyn arferion gorau yn rhyngwladol ac i wneud hynny ar unwaith. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf ddyfynnu comisiynydd Lloegr eto, ond, ac rwy'n dyfynnu: Mae profiadau yn Sweden, Norwy a Denmarc yn dangos y gellir addasu a gweithredu'r model o fewn fframwaith cyfreithiol gwlad arall, heb beryglu'r egwyddorion craidd sy'n sicrhau canlyniadau mor drawiadol. Felly, ni fyddai angen inni beryglu unrhyw beth a wnawn ar hyn o bryd. Roeddwn yn awyddus iawn wrth gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn iddo gynnwys trafodaeth ynghylch tai diogel a llety mewn llochesau. Os yw plentyn yn mynd i orsaf yr heddlu neu'n gwneud honiad wrth athro ynglŷn â rhiant, gwarcheidwad neu aelod o'r teulu sy'n cam-drin yn rhywiol, credaf ei bod hi'n iawn fod lle diogel a llety ar gael i'r plentyn allu mynd iddo i gael cefnogaeth wrth aros i'r broses statudol ddod yn weithredol neu i aros am yr opsiynau gofal maeth priodol. Ar hyn o bryd, mae gan awdurdodau lleol bŵer i gyhoeddi gorchmynion gofal brys ac i blant fynd i ofal maeth, ond nid wyf yn credu y dylai hyn fod yn unig opsiwn. Er bod rhwydweithiau rhagorol o ofalwyr maeth ar draws y wlad yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol yn y maes hwn, ceir prinder gofalwyr maeth hefyd. Yn 2018 nodwyd bod Cymru yn wynebu diffyg o fwy na 500; ledled y DU, amcangyfrifodd y rhwydwaith maethu fod angen 8,000 i lenwi'r bylchau yn y ddarpariaeth. Pan gaiff plentyn ei leoli mewn sefyllfa gofal maeth brys, ni cheir sicrwydd ychwaith y bydd gan y teulu brofiad penodol o ymdrin â phlant sydd wedi cael eu cam-drin yn rhywiol, er fy mod yn sylweddoli y byddent yn gobeithio gallu ymdrin â hynny yn y ffordd fwyaf priodol. Yn aml, byddai'r plentyn yn cael ei osod mewn sefyllfa dros dro, cyn symud ymlaen at ofalwr maeth gyda mwy o brofiad, gobeithio, gyda'r cefndir penodol hwnnw mewn cof. Ond ni fyddai'r gofal a'r cymorth arbenigol ar gael ar unwaith o reidrwydd. Mae Cymorth i Fenywod wedi cefnogi'r galwadau am dai diogel ar gyfer plant oherwydd ceir loteri cod post i blant mewn llawer o achosion, ac oherwydd bod y cymorth arbenigol a'r amgylchedd sydd ar gael i fenyw sy'n mynd i loches menywod yn eithriadol o bwysig. Dylai fod yr un amgylchedd cefnogol ac arbenigol ar gael i blentyn sy'n agored i niwed, hyd yn oed os mai opsiwn ar gyfer y tymor byr yn unig ydyw. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, cyflwynwyd y ddeiseb yn galw am dai plant yng Nghymru gan etholwr i mi yn Abertawe, Mayameen Meftahi, a gafodd ei cham-drin ac a redodd i ffwrdd o'i chartref ond cafodd ei dychwelyd i aelwyd a oedd yn ei cham-drin - dyna rywbeth nad yw hi byth eisiau ei weld yn digwydd i unrhyw un arall. Mae wedi galw am dai diogel ar gyfer plant oherwydd bod realiti pwysau'r trawma ar y plentyn sy'n wynebu ac yn rhoi gwybod am brofiadau mor ofnadwy â hyn yn wirioneddol enfawr - ni allwn fychanu'r profiad y bydd y plentyn hwnnw'n gorfod mynd drwyddo. A gânt eu credu? A fydd rhywun yn gwrando arnynt? A fyddant yn wynebu'r posibilrwydd o orfod dychwelyd adref? A fydd rhywun yn y teulu yn eu hargyhoeddi i dynnu'r honiad penodol hwnnw yn ôl? Rydym wedi ei weld yn digwydd. Rydym wedi'i weld yn y newyddion - rydym wedi gweld y straeon hyn ac nid ydym am eu gweld eto. Mae opsiwn llochesau, lle gall plentyn gael cymorth i ymdrin â'r materion a'r penderfyniadau hyn, yn opsiwn gwerth ei archwilio. Gadewch inni beidio ag anghofio bod penderfyniadau mawr a phroses fawr iawn yn cael eu gorfodi ar ysgwyddau plant agored iawn i niwed. Rwy'n barod i wrando ar y Llywodraeth ac Aelodau eraill ar ymarferoldeb sefydlu opsiynau fel hyn, ac i ba raddau y gallai olygu cydweithio ar draws asiantaethau statudol a phartneriaid trydydd sector priodol. Caf fy nghalonogi gan eiriau comisiynydd plant Cymru y byddai'n croesawu ymgysylltiad ar y ffordd orau o fynd ati i sefydlu gofod diogel neu loches, a sut y gallai hynny weithio. Gwn fod gwaith ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd ar y model arbennig hwn yn Llundain - prosiect Lighthouse yw ei enw. Ond er bod yr adolygiad hwnnw ar y gweill, nid yw hynny yn ein hatal ni rhag ei fabwysiadu yma - mae wedi bod yn gweithio'n llwyddiannus yno hyd yma. I orffen, buaswn yn annog y Llywodraeth yn gryf i gefnogi'r cynnig hwn heddiw fel rhan o gyfres ehangach o ffyrdd i ddiwygio'r system er gwell. Rydym yn gwybod bod hwn yn faes sensitif iawn, ond fe wyddom hefyd mai'r rhai sydd wedi cael eu cam-drin sydd yn y sefyllfa orau weithiau i ddweud wrthym beth ddylai ddigwydd, ac yn yr achos hwn, credaf fod hynny'n iawn.