Improving Responses to Older People’s Experiences of Sexual Violence and Abuse

Summary of September 2025 roundtable event

In September 2025, the Commissioner convened a roundtable to explore the actions needed to improve responses to older people’s experiences of sexual violence and abuse.

The roundtable was attended by representatives from public bodies and third sector organisations across Wales; all of whom had direct experience of working with older people affected by sexual violence or abuse. This was critical to ensuring that the voices of older people remained central to the discussion and that any decisions for action were firmly grounded in their lived experiences. Colleagues attending the roundtable shared several examples of older people’s experiences of accessing and engaging with services. The insight from these discussions were fundamental to identifying the ‘areas for action’ highlighted within this paper, which is divided into three sections.

The first focuses upon participants’ perceptions of the challenges of responding effectively to older people’s experiences of sexual violence or abuse. The second section highlights what needs to change from the perspectives of participants, areas for action and levers for change. The final section outlines the commitments made by the Commissioner following the roundtable.