Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day: Devon and Cornwall sexual violence support service wins national award
While it is accepted that the majority of victims who are subjected to domestic and sexual abuse and violence are female, the numbers of male domestic abuse victims are much higher than some people may expect.
One in three victims of domestic abuse are male, which equates to 3.2% of men in the UK. Not only this, but one in seven men will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime.
While sexual violence against women is more common than against men, it was estimated that in the year leading to March 2022 that over 275,000 men experienced sexual assault. These figures suggest that 1.2% of men in the UK were victims of sexual violence.
Physical and sexual assaults, or threats of this, are one of the forms of domestic abuse tracked by the Office for National Statistics.
It’s important to consider the impact of sexual violence against men and how we can look to support male survivors to come forward and seek support. ManKind, a charity that helps men escape domestic abuse, started Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day two years ago to do just that.
Did you know that only one in 20 victims accessing specialist support from their local commissioned service is male? The awareness day aims to signpost male victims towards support services that are available where they live. This year, the awareness day takes place on Thursday 7 November.
Inspire Justice Awards winners Devon and Cornwall Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Service (ISVA) were recognised in September for their incredible work supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. First set up by charity First Light in 2018 and funded Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon and Cornwall ISVA has supported over 7,700 children and adults who have suffered sexual violence. The programme was recognised by the Inspire Justice Awards’ expert panel of judges and named the runner up in the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative of the Year award category.
As well as supporting thousands of individuals over the past 6 years, the service was commended for their remarkable strides towards improving engagement with harder to reach communities. Victims who are male, from a black or minority ethnic background, sex workers or LGBTQ+ have historically been reluctant to come forward and seek help and support, but Devon and Cornwall ISVA service has started to turn this around.
The role that Devon and Cornwall ISVA plays in the local community cannot be underestimated with service users thanking the group for its often lifechanging support.
“I’ve carried this for nearly 5 months, trying to work out what to do, and decide how to proceed. I simply don’t have the right words to explain what it’s meant to me. The phrase “a weight was lifted” doesn’t come close,” said one.
“[My] ISVA was always a constant source of support; they were always there and helped me through the long periods of either no contact or delayed responses from the police. They listened to me, believed in me and helped me understand why I was feeling the way I was. They came with me to court and never left my side for the two days I was giving evidence,” said another.
Accepting their award at ceremony held in London, Tom Godwin, Head of Development, said:
“It’s a fantastic recognition of the work that happens day in, day out, working with survivors and victims of sexual assault.
“Sexual violence is an issue that affects all ages and all genders and we’re particularly proud of the fact that this award recognises that.
“We work tirelessly to advocate for victims, giving them the support they need, stewarding them through the criminal justice system and holding their hands at some of the most difficult times in their lives.
“It’s really inspiring being here today sitting with other finalists who share the same values. It’s infectious and makes you feel that despite the long, hard days we’re stronger together and the more we work together, the more we communicate, the more we advocate for people, the better the world will be.”
It’s great to see organisations like Devon and Cornwall ISVA are doing fantastic work to help encourage more men to come forward about the abuse they are experiencing. With work like this, and Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day, we hope to see less men suffer in silence and the number of men accessing specialist support rise.
The Inspire Justice Awards is the UK’s only awards programme dedicated to recognising the achievements of the entire justice sector, including incredible equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives like that of Devon and Cornwall ISVA.