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The Violence Prevention Team’s research examining violence prevention approaches across Wales has been published in the Journal of Public Health, reinforcing the evidence base for trauma-informed, whole-system approaches to preventing violence.
The publication draws on the Engaging Men and Boys Toolkit as well as the latest available evidence, bringing international recognition to the innovative work happening in Wales and strengthening the evidence base by communicating practitioner knowledge about what works to engage men and boys. The research provides a unique snapshot of violence prevention programming focused on engaging men and boys within Wales’ distinctive policy context, and the article outlines the opportunities for effective violence prevention through whole-system approaches that address structural determinants alongside individual behaviours.
The research demonstrates that while some individual programmes show promising elements of trauma-informed, strengths-based practice, sustainable violence prevention requires coordinated action that addresses structural drivers of violence. The evidence shows that focusing solely on individual behaviour change while leaving broader systems unchallenged limits the potential for lasting impact. Effective prevention must engage community and societal level levers, including legislation, social norms, and environmental factors, as outlined in the Wales Without Violence framework.
Evidence shows that harmful gender norms that socialise men to value hierarchy, aggression, and emotional suppression are causes of gender-related disparities in violence. Boys and young men are frequently victims of gendered violence and trauma, which shapes vulnerability to violence perpetration and victimisation later in life.
The research highlights Kaufman’s ‘triad of violence’ framework, which identifies the interconnected nature of men’s violence against women, against other men and boys, and against themselves. This understanding demonstrates why comprehensive prevention strategies that address multiple forms of violence simultaneously can be more effective than treating different expressions of violence in isolation.
This interconnected understanding also emphasises the importance of avoiding policy silos. As Burrell and Westmarland note in their toolkit on engaging men and boys in violence prevention, effective prevention requires making connections between violence against women and other gendered policy issues, such as violence among children and young people and knife crime, where gendered dynamics play a central role. This approach could bring agencies and organisations together to address these issues simultaneously through coordinated approaches.
The study highlights that men are significantly more likely to be perpetrators across all forms of interpersonal violence, with figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that 90% of domestic homicide perpetrators between 2019 and 2022 were male. However, the research also emphasises that many men and boys have themselves experienced violence and trauma, requiring compassionate, trauma-informed approaches rather than blame-based interventions.
The research identifies trauma-informed approaches as essential for effective engagement in violence prevention. Practitioners emphasised the importance of creating physically and emotionally safe environments, using positive and empowering language, and validating participants’ experiences rather than employing blaming or accusatory approaches.
Trauma-informed practice recognises that many participants have complex experiences including mental health challenges, substance use, financial difficulties, or homelessness, requiring holistic support tailored to individual circumstances.
Findings from research as part of the development for the Engaging Men and Boys Toolkit indicates geographic inequalities in programme provision, with most interventions concentrated in South Wales, creating inconsistent access across the country. However, the article highlights promising developments that indicate systemic change is underway. The Welsh Government’s Lead the Change all-Wales bystander programme (2024-2026) and campaigns such as Sound demonstrate growing commitment to coordinated, evidence-based approaches across the country.
Wales benefits from distinctive policy frameworks that create opportunities for integrated violence prevention approaches. The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 provide legislative foundations for long-term, multi-agency coordination.
The Wales Without Violence Framework and the Trauma-Informed Wales Practice Framework align with practitioner emphasis on coordinated, trauma-informed approaches identified in the research. These frameworks, combined with multi-agency partnerships, such as the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Blueprint and Serious Violence Duty partnerships, could position Wales to lead on engaging men and boys in violence prevention.
The research concludes that realising the full potential of engaging men and boys in violence prevention requires moving beyond individual behaviour change toward whole-system approaches that address structural drivers of gendered violence. This necessitates coordinated action across multiple levels: individual, community, institutional, and structural. Whole system leadership can support this transformation by ensuring initiatives are consistent, accessible, co-designed, and coordinated across sectors, moving from fragmented provision toward strategic, evidence-informed programmes that deliver sustainable change at scale.
The research builds on existing resources for practitioners, including the Engaging Men and Boys toolkit published as a Wales Without Violence resource in 2024, which provides practical guidance for developing effective interventions.
The publication of this research in a peer-reviewed journal validates trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches while emphasising the need for strategic coordination and evaluation to build the evidence base for effective violence prevention.
The full research article “From individual interventions to structural change: Why public health leadership is needed to engage men and boys in violence prevention” by L.C. Snowdon, A. Walker, E.R. Barton, B. Parry, and S. Pike is published in the Journal of Public Health. Click here to read the article [Science Direct]
Access the Engaging Men and Boys Toolkit and other resources at waleswithoutviolence.com/resources
