Men victims of sexist abuse code
This study, involving 200 patients, found that 20% of men who participated were affected by abuse in the home. These findings are similar to those of the national study on domestic violence published earlier this year by the National Crime Council (NCC).
Among the notable findings of that study are:
15% of women and 6% of men suffer severe domestic abuse.
29% of women and 26% of men suffer domestic abuse when severe and minor abuse are combined.
13% of women and 13% of men suffer physical abuse.
29% of women (one in three) and only 5% of men (one in 20) report to the gardaí.
Dr Caitriona Waters, who carried out the Galway study, is quoted as saying the figure relating to male victims may be an underestimate as it is difficult for them to volunteer this information and males do not attend GPs as frequently as females.
This is a valid point borne out by the findings of the NCC study which found that one in three women and only one in 20 men report to the gardaí.
Given the overwhelming evidence now available showing that a significant number of men are also abused in their own homes, it is difficult to understand why the Government and State bodies persist with their gender-exclusive approach to this issue.
Just before Christmas, Minister of State Noel Ahern launched a code of practice on domestic violence for use by projects within the Community Development Programme.
This code is one of the most sexist, anti-man and ill-informed documents on domestic violence produced by any organisation in recent years.
In order to justify a gender-exclusive approach, the document states that “the most recent research into the prevalence of domestic violence in Ireland” was a study carried out by TCD in 2002.
It is inconceivable that Mr Ahern or his officials, in preparing this document, could be unaware of the NCC report which is accepted by other Government ministers and departments as the definitive piece of research into domestic violence in this country.
The TCD study dealt with female victims only and could not therefore be described as “research into the prevalence of domestic violence.”
This sexist code, with its inaccurate information, can only have the effect of further isolating male victims of domestic violence.
The gender-exclusive policies of the Government are further evidenced by the fact that over €20 million in taxpayers’ money is provided for support for female victims while no ongoing funding is provided for services for male victims.
The result is that male victims throughout the country cannot access services.
Those who require supports either have to travel to the Amen offices in Navan (as many have done), or do without.
Despite the overwhelming evidence demonstrating the need for services for male victims, the Government has to date refused to provide the necessary resources to develop such services.
Mary T Cleary
Amen
St Anne’s Resource Centre
Railway Street
Navan
Co Meath
