The Rights Of Man

CONGRATULATIONS TO RADIO FIVE LIVE (5) FOR FEATURE ON MALE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

As reported (link), the Stephen Nolan show on Radio Five Live (5) ran a feature on male domestic violence victims.

It was first rate and aired an interview with Erin Pizzey and a victim. Subsequently, they were inundated with calls from other victims, many of whom were interviewed. Not in recent years has there been such an opportunity to air this taboo.

It can still be heard at (link) and thanks to Men's Aid (link) - the timings are  01:34:40 to 01:43:00 and then 01:45:00 to 01:57:00, 02:01:30 to 02:28:30 and lastly 02:35:30 to 02:45:00.

If you ever hear those from

• Women's Aid,
• Refuge,
• NSPCC,
• Fawcett Society,
• Commission of Equality and Human Rights,
• Labour Government,
• Media.

deny that men are victims, sit them down and make sure they listen to every single word said on this programme.

With this feature and other articles such as those in the Telegraph, The Independent (link), (link) and (link), if the current Home Affairs Select Committee on Domestic Violence does not take male victims seriously in its findings then it will be a whitewash.

HARRIET HARMAN - A REMINDER OF HER VIEWS ON MEN

A reminder to all those who do not think this Labour Government's not anti-men appeared in the weekend's Independent (link). It was Q&A with Deputy Leader and arch feminist, Harriet Harman:-

As a feminist, are you proud of Margaret Thatcher?

No, because she was out to prove she was as every bit as nasty as all the men in her cabinet. Feminism is about progressive politics and solidarity with other women. Thatcher was neither.

Editor's note - All men are bastards? Feminism in the way she talks and acts is about special treatment and anti-male discrimination.

There is still a significant wage gap between men and women in this country. What will you do to tackle it?

Some tough measures in our new Equality Bill which will come out later this year. I just don't believe women are less committed, less hard-working or less able than men. So they shouldn't be paid less.

Editor's note - The gender gap is about lifestyle choices and that men do the dangerous jobs and work longer hours and don't tend to take work gaps to bring up their children (which most women do by choice as part of a family unit/decision). Harman knows this.

ERIN PIZZEY - INDEPENDENT ARTICLE

I know Erin has been well covered here recently (and rightly so), but there was an overview of her work in The Independent two weeks ago. For completeness, the article is here - (link).

THE JOKE IS ON FATHERS AS BRUCE HYMAN SERVES TWO MONTHS OF ONE YEAR SENTENCE

When barrister Bruce Hyman was jailed for a year for framing a father fighting for custody of his children in the family law courts, there was rightly consternation that this was not long enough. This was compounded by Hyman seeking the cost of £11,000 to be made against the father.

The fact that Hyman thought he could get away with it was no surprise because fathers are hardly ever believed in the shadowy secret unaccountable Stalinist family court system (link).

However, it was revealed in the Ham & High newspaper that Hyman is already free and only had to serve two months of his 12 month sentence (link).

Even in this day and age where people only serve half of their sentence, only serving 1/6th is a scandal.

No justice at all for the father and it shows that the legal system did not take his crime that seriously. Of course, it is because fathers are the whipping boys, who cares about justice for them.

RADIO FIVE FEATURE ON MALE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS - SUNDAY 24TH (FROM 10PM)

The ManKind Initiative have said today that BBC Radio 5 Live (693/909mw and digital) will be producing a feature on male victims of domestic violence on Sunday 24th February from 10pm.

It will feature at some time on that show so you may have to listen for a while.

SINGLE-SEX WARDS CONCERN MEN AS WELL AS WOMEN

The recent admission that the Government has failed in its promise (not another broken promise surely?)  to eliminate single sex wards, shows the mess this government is in despite all its extra taxes thrown at the NHS. It is also a clear failure to treat men and women in hospital with the dignity they deserve.

Currently 4 in every 5 hospitals do not segregate men and women. The story was covered here:- (link), (link), (link) and (link).

What needs to be remembered, but is often forgotten, is that there is as much indiginity for an ill man to be in a ward with ill women, as well as the other way round.

Often, this sad issue is looked at from the usual one-eyed, one-sided perspective. That is, it is terrible and undignified for ill women to be in wards with ill men. Of course it is, but also it has to be remembered that it works the other way round as well.

This should be one of the top items in the in-tray for any Minister for Men.

ANTI-FREEZE CASE SHOWS ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS MEN AND WOMEN

The sad court case involving Kate Knight's failed attempt to murder her husband (he is still left blind, deaf and has to bring up his son) with anti-freeze she put in his curry, raises a number of points.

Firstly, the shocking case received the coverage it deserved (link), (link), (link), (link), (link) and elsewhere as well.

Secondly, though extreme, it proved once and for all that domestic abuse is not just a man on women situation. This case should be brought up time and again, whenever groups like the Government, Refuge, Women's Aid et al talk about domestic abuse just affecting women. It is a clear example that domestic abuse is a social problem not a one way gender problem. It was disappointing that commentators did not pick up on this point.

Now we await the sentencing...it must be long...very long...

NSPCC PROPAGANDA INFLUENCES CHILDREN TO THINK MEN ARE SOLE PERPATRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The endemic demonising of men is most characteristically shown by organisations only showing women as victims and men as perpetrators of domestic violence.

It is particularly sad and worrying when this includes charities like the NSPCC and the message is sent out strongly to children. Whilst they try and recognise that men can also be victims, the posters and leaflets are all showing men as perpetrators.

Often organisations do this in an unthinking way, preferring to swallow the constant propaganda from the likes of Women's Aid, Refuge, The Government and others. They fail to check the facts that 33%-40% of domestic violence victims are men and that 1 in every 4 incidents are against men. These are Home Office figures.

These links show the propaganda and the demonisation of fathers by the NSPCC. Only women can be victims in the eyes of the NSPCC.

Whole Woman Leaflet (link) - there is nothing to help fathers suffering from domestic violence;

Feel Safe At Home (link) - aimed at children, only talks about a mother being hurt;

Facing Forward leaflets (apologies for the poor scans) - aimed at corporate supporters.

Download NSPCC1.pdf

  Download NSPCC2.pdf

HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THIRD HEARING

The next hearing of the Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into Domestic Violence is happening on Tuesday 19th February at Portcullis House, Parliament (link). It is likely to be available to watch on-line (link).

IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

This is the most important hearing so far because it is taking testimony from groups operating in this field.

Concerns have been raised that the only men's group is the MALE ADVICE LINE which is run by Respect, who largely deal with male perpetrators of violence. Charities such as the ManKind Initiative and Mens Aid have not been called to give evidence. Will the plight of the male victim get a hearing?

NEW REPORT SHOWS FAMILY COURTS ARE SYSTEMATICALLY FAILING

Families Need Fathers produced a first rate piece of research this week entitled "The Law, Justice and You!". The press release is here (link) and the full report here (link).

It clearly shows that the family court system, as it says on the press release, is failing those it aims to serve.

The delays are scary and atrocious but what is even worse is the appalling ratings for those supposedly involved in the justice system who are meant to be independent and act in the best interests of the child. It shows how the British rule of law is crumbling and confidence of a fair hearing is non existent.

• 50%  of judges are rated as poor;
• 64% of CAFCASS officers are rated as poor (2 in 3);
• 66% of lawyers are rated as poor.

It is a shocking state of affairs and the general awfulness of the unaccountable people in the ultra secretive CAFCASS is once again exposed.

The law clearly needs changing and the courts opened up to scrutiny. Where there is an unaccountable silence, there is injustice.