Surge of Support for Male Victims of Domestic Abuse by Researchers, Government Officials, and Service Groups

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Hain

Surge of Support for Male Victims of Domestic Abuse by Researchers, Government Officials, and Service Groups

January 10, 2023 – A wave of support has emerged in recent months in recognition of male victims of domestic abuse. The support has come from researchers, government officials, and service agencies from across the European continent.

Researchers:

The milestone book, “Domestic Violence Against Men and Boys,” was published last week. Edited by Elizabeth Bates and Julie Taylor, the volume highlights relevant research and practice considerations (1).
The Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance released a compilation of research studies conducted in 19 countries throughout Europe. The compilation reveals that men and women are equally likely to be victims of physical domestic violence (2).

Government Officials:

Scotland: Last week, the Times reported that the Scottish government is currently developing a “national strategy on ending intimate and sexual violence against men and boys.” (3)
United Kingdom: The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and Boys convened a meeting on 7 June 2022. Victim’s Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC emphasized, “there is insufficient focus on men and boys in the drive to tackle sexual violence, domestic abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence.” (4)

Service Groups:

France: Père Enfant Mère staffs a national telephone helpline for abused men (5).
Ireland: Men’s Aid offers a national helpline, counseling, peer group support, court accompaniment, and community workshops to help abused men (6).
Lithuania: The Association Against Parental Alienation participated in the International Men’s Day with social media promotions that “Not Only Women, But Also Men Can Become Victims of Violence (7).
Northern Ireland: The Men’s Alliance Northern Ireland held a “Day to Discuss the Needs of Male Victims of Domestic and Sexual Abuse” on November 18, with participation by Victims Commissioner Geraldine Hanna and others (8).
Poland: On September 9, Good Father held an event in Warsaw for the International Day Against False Accusations (9).
Spain: The Asociación Nacional de Ayuda a Víctimas de Violencia Doméstica (ANAVID) held public demonstrations in Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla (10).
United Kingdom:
- The ManKind Initiative held a “Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day” on November 2, with 42 groups participating (11).
- Gender Parity UK is working for “shelters and support available for victims of domestic abuse for both sexes in proportion to their needs,” among other needs (12).
- Temper Domestic Violence offers courses to both male and female abusers on situational couple violence (13).

These wide-ranging efforts challenge the EU Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women — also known as the Istanbul Convention — which seeks to silence male victims of domestic abuse (14). Members of the European Parliament and Member State lawmakers are invited to contact the Council of Europe to express your concern: https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention/form

The Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance – DAVIA — consists of 70 member organizations from 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. DAVIA seeks to ensure that domestic violence and abuse polices are science-based, family-affirming, and sex-inclusive. https://endtodv.org/davia/

Citations:

https://endtodv.org/coalitions/davia/campaigns/ic/