(SOME) HELP IN SCOTLAND FOR MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

In December last year, this site updated the situation in Scotland where there seemed to have been moves afoot fro some official recognition of male victims of domestic abuse. A petition (PE1307) had been put down in the Scottish Parliament by Jackie Walls and Alison Waugh.

The follow up to this was that a debate then took place before the Petitions Committee on 26th January 2010 where Alison spoke to the committee alongside two men who had been victims. Following the meeting (which also received good media coverage - Scottish TV and BBC) submissions were invited for later discussion.

What was interesting was that the Petitions Commitee made up of Backbench Members of the Scottish Parliament discussed the issue seriously and were clearly moved by the two men who spoke anonymously to them. 

The submissions that were requested showed the extent of the hostility of some organisations to the whole concept of male victims. Made worse as some supposedly believe in equal opportunities but do not want to accept men as equals (see Edinburgh Council's response). The ManKind Initiative response was typically feisty though.

Following this, the Scottish Government launched a help-line for a year (March Press Release, April Press Release of launch) bizarrely with English-based charity, the Men's Advice Line, who as a subgroup of Respect (the perpetrator charity) notoriously look at domestic violence from a feminist perspective (whatever that is). Alison and Jackie's organisation (Abused) Men in Scotland surely should have been considered.

The petition still remains live and was discussed further in May and the whole issue will be discussed on Thursday 10th June between 14.55 to 17.00 GMT and should be available to watch live on Holyrood TV.

At least this issue is starting to be taken seriously in Scotland, though there will inevitably be some resistance and it seems strange that a Scottish group is not running the help-line. With the new Coalition Government for the whole UK, let us hope that they make up the mantle on an issue  disgracefully ignored by the previous UK Government.

Comments

[Dave Russell]

I couldn't agree more with the comments made in this blog. As someone who once used the helpline referred to (MALE), it treats primary calls from males claiming abuse or violence, with great suspicion - believing they may simply be counter allegations and that the male caller is, in fact, a perpetrator.

I personally found the MALE helpline to be of little or no use, and felt that the person on the other end of the phone, was simply going through a checklist, the advice being: notify the police, get a solicitor, or get out. Hardly helpful.

I now provide voluntary work for a UK wide male doemstic abuse service providor We receive a high quantity of calls from abused males who are disgruntled with the lack of options and support via the MALE helpline. Yes it serves a purpose, yes it does help some callers, though whether it has the ability to serve Scotland, is open to debate. Certainly, many of those working in the field of male doemstic abuse have serious reservations about MALE & Respect.

A dip sample of serious research by the Scottish Government will indicate better quality services and options on offer to male victims, and their families. It seems to many, that the MALE helpline option is a knee jerk and simple option. The fact that it is England based will not engender much confidence in callers from Scotland, of greater concern, to where does it signpost Scottish callers for local support and help services. The answer is - it doesn't. So why have it in the first place?

[Groan]

These women are true heroines. Keep supporting them. Surely candidates for an award.

[Groan]

And you Dave.in this era of cuts few services for men will need all the support they can get.

[John Kimble]

"I personally found the MALE helpline to be of little or no use"

Surely it's worse than that. To have gender feminists running such a service and therefore taking the attitude that only women can be victims means that lives are going to be put at risk.

Desperate men will be calling the helpline seeking help when in fact the person on the other end is basically an apologist for the abuse they are suffering.

[Groan]

Yes Mankind is a better service and should be supported in England and Wales. All will need help as funding gets tight. Please at least visit theirs and others linked to this blog.