THE WELSH government has appointed two new advisers who will implement the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.

Yasmin Khan and Nazir Afzal will also work with victims and survivors and with other groups to improve the way services are planned, commissioned and delivered.

Ms Khan founded the Halo Project charity, which supports victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence. She has worked with communities in addressing inequalities in employment, education and training.

Mr Afzal, was chief prosecutor for north-west England and chief executive of the Police and Crime Commissioners Association.

He has campaigned for women’s rights and spoken out against forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honour killings.

Ms Khan said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Wales’s national adviser and look forward to meeting partners, communities and stakeholders to ensure Wales can become one of the safest places for women and girls to live, prosper and feel safe.”

Between 2013-15, the number of reported domestic violence crimes in Wales rose by almost a quarter.