The Rights Of Man

DEMANDS FOR A MAP OF GAPS FOR MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

Earlier on this year, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission launched a Map of Gaps campaign based on the lack of services for female victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence (link).

The charity, The ManKind Initiative, has asked the Commission to launch a similar campaign for male victims. The letter to Trevor Phillips is here.

Now let us see if the Equalities Commission truly believes in equality.

THE BBC'S ONE SHOW HIGHLIGHTS MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

The BBC yesterday (5th March 2009) produced another superb documentary on male victims of domestic violence and domestic abuse.

The BBC handled the subject sensitively and also importantly interviewed both Dr Malcolm George and Erin Pizzey who were able to talk about some of the 'political' and 'social' barriers that male victims face.

Particularly wonderful was the comment from the actor Julian Fellowes about "The strong feminist agenda of the last ten years which has insisted that violence is essentially from men to women."Worth the licence fee alone and you can bet that some people watching that who would have choked on their linguine!

The programme is available at:- Realplayer.

If other readers know a better way of playing it please help (John Kimble perhaps)

A blog is also here

CAFCASS IN THE MIDLANDS FAILING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - HOW MUCH HURT HAS BEEN CAUSED?

The secretive and unaccountable Cafcass (or Kafkass)in Birmingham and the Black Country has been given an inadequate rating by Ofsted . It was given the lowest score: Grade 4 

The Birmingham and Black Country report itself says "The overall effectiveness of the service provided is inadequate. Crucially, some key services are not currently delivered to minimum standards. Performance is weak in meeting some statutory functions."

Cafcass in the East Midlands failed in 2008 (link) and Birmingham and the Black Country report is here (link).

What both reports don't cover and is the human misery caused by these incompetent so-called 'public servants'. The families torn apart, the children who don't get to see their fathers (and in rare cases mothers) anymore and the general heartache of dealing with a secret state that does not care for the people they are entrusted (and paid well for) to look after and do their best for.

This is a true scandal and thousands of children and fathers in the Midlands are suffering because of it.

MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE FEATURED ON BBC BUT GOVERNMENT STILL PLAYS THE GENDER STEREOTYPE CARD

On Tuesday 10th Feb the BBC covered the issue of male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence extensively. The coverage featuring a victim and the ManKind Initiative (link) included BBC Radio 1 and 5 interviews  as well as other coverage - link, link, a phone-in, a blog, an editor's note and coverage across the regional network. 

This was based primarily on new Home Office figures (link) which show that 3.2 million men have been a victim in their lifetime (20% of men) and that 2.7 million men have been a victim of partner abuse. The BBC used the hook which showed figures highlighting that younger men (20-24) were more likely to be a victim than women of the same age.

One of the points made by the victim and others was the fact that as a man you are automatically arrested by the police and the ManKind Initiative stated that services for men were 35 years behind that for women. The Government, local authorities and the police are institutionally sexist.

In a bizarre sense of timing, the Government made an announcement that proves it (link).

On Tuesday, the Home Office teamed up with the British Banking Association, to give help to victims of domestic abuse and to help launch a small card for victims. The press release mentions and accepts that 3.2 million men are victims (a first) yet then falls back to the same old gender stereotypes:-

• It mentions a purse-sized credit card - not a purse or wallet sized credit card
• The quote from the Home Secretary only mentions women
• The quotes are only from groups that help women, none for men
• The actual credit card sized leaflet describes all victims as she, never he and she

What it shows is that the Government just does not get it. It may begrudgingly acknowledge the figures but it just cannot help itself and be gender -neutral.

The coverage on the BBC today was at least some recognition and this has gradually and glacially started to improve things but the Government are continually and wilfully burying their head in the sand.

Much work to do...

CMEC - WHERE IS THE EQUAL JUSTICE ON CONTACT ORDERS?

The new CSA - The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (link) announced proposals this week that would mean parents who were not paying for the upkeep of their children would be able to have their driving licences and passports taken away without the CMEC having to go to court. The issues on this are numerous.

Firstly, the use of the court system offers an independent legislative check and stops state officials believing they have unaccountable powers to harm UK citizens. It is fundamental to all the debates on ID cards, CCTV, using terrorist powers to spy on people going about their business etc etc. It is about the state controlling people and not people controlling the state, It is absolutely fundamental to the concept of liberty this once proud freedom loving country used as its foundation. Under this Government, it is no more.

The day-to-day incompetence of civil servants, bureaucrats and officials is legion so why does anyone think this organisation will be any different and more efficianet, transparent and fair than the awful CSA. An organisation that drove many men to commit suicide and why organisations like CSA Hell were set up.

Media Coverage

One of the issues constantly remarked here is the way that a story that is presented in a gender-neutral way is then twisted into gender stereotyping male bashing.

The story put out by the DWP was gender neutral - it said parents. But these newspapers just blamed it on fathers -  Daily Mail, Daily Mail 'Deadbeat Dads', Scotsman, Telegraph, ITV. As if there are no absent mothers!

The most remarkable anti-male article seen for a long while was the anti-male feminist par excellence Polly Toynbee. She is literally overflowing with her hatred of men, it's almost as if she cannot control her rage, she says "The truth is that marriages often break down when women escape from bad role models - the ones who become the won't-pay fathers." No wonder she recived some 739 comments on her post. She has form on this issue.

Where is the fair deal?

Ultimately though, whilst the draconian powers have been ramped up, nothing changes.

The same inhumane admin cock ups as the CSA, refusing to answer letters or check up whether those claiming are telling the truth will continue?

Where is the justice when a mother walks out on the father to shack up with a new man leaving the rejected man to still pick up the tab?

Worse and this is the real injustice. If parents (lets say a father) are going to lose their passports and driving licences then the parent (lets say a mother) with custody who refuses to abide by contact orders, should then lose her passport and driving licence. This would be one remedy the Family Courts could use rather than the usual spineless inaction.

In a world of joined-up Government and fairness, this would be the case. However, we live in a Britain where the state dislikes men and has no interest in fairness towards them.

HARMAN'S CORONERS AND JUSTICE BILL - THE TRACY BARLOW EFFECT

On the 14th January, Harriet Harman got her way and the Coroners and Justice Bill received its first reading in Parliament.

Whilst the bill is wide ranging, there were three cracking articles and debates in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and the irrepressible Melanie Phillips, also in the Daily Mail who declares it as "Harman's latest male-bashing policy."

The key issue is not really about what charge a man would recieve if, in a momentary loss of control, he kills his wife because of adultery (presume it applies to women finding their husband in bed with anotherwomen), it is the sub-text around the 'defence' for killing a man because of domestic violence or the perceived fear of violence. The adultery issue is a smokescreen.

The clear subtext is one that is at the core of the anti-male Government and establishment that is so prevalent in today's Britain. The wording of the law will be gender-neutral but the application of the law will not be, it will be anti-male.

The Daily Telegraph explains it well - "It will streamline the defence of provocation to two key areas, one of 'fear of serious violence'. If a victim of domestic violence fears she will be attacked again she could argue such a defence if she kills her partner and, if the jury accepts the defence, would be convicted of manslaughter and avoid the mandatory life term."

The problem is firstly Harriet Harman has made it clear, this is about a defence for females and females-only. It sets the tone for the Crown Prosecution Service and the police. If a man who commits such a crime because of the domestic violence he suffers/fears from his wife/partner, he is very unlikely to be believed. His defence team will have to work ten times harder to get the prosecution to swallow it and that is before you come to the jury.

The problem with the jury is that because 99% (and this is being generous to the 1%) of the propaganda by the Government, Police, Crown Prosecution Service, media and others is that only women can be victims of domestic violence, they are not likely to be believed. I suspect the jury will probably feel such claims as being laughable. It is irrelevant that 40% of domestic violence victims are male, who knows this fact? The Government, police and others know it (it is a Home Office fact) but choose to ignore it.

The second issue is that it makes it easier for violent women to kill their husbands/partners and then claim that it was because they were victims or in fear, without any proof. The man cannot speak from beyond the grave. The tone of Harman's comments is that the police and CPS almost have to accept the word of a woman when she says it was because of provocation, proof is not needed.

A clear example would be that in Coronation Street a few years ago Tracy Barlow cold bloodily killed her male partner Charlie Stubbs and claimed it was because of domestic violence, which was untrue. The police saw through it and she was jailed for murder. If this Bill becomes a law, it is likely she would have had her sentence wrongly commuted to manslaughter and would probably be out of prison by now.

Many men complain that they are the victims of false accusations by violent wives/partners and when they ring the police, the wife/partner says it was the man who was the perpetrator. The police of course believe the women becuase they are told to. With 22 men being killed per year by women in a domestic relationship, there is a risk this figure will now increase because some will feel they can get away it.

Commentary on the proposals was also made on this site here in 2008

  

SHAMEFUL SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WILFULLY IGNORES MALE DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS IN SCOTLAND OVER CHRISTMAS

In the past few months there has been a sense that things may change in Scotland because of the publication of statistics (link) that showed how many men were victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence in Scotland (130% increase since 2000/01). These are under-reported figures of course as there are only incidents reported to the police. Pressure has been applied but so far the Scottish Government is not budging. This is on purpose.

This can be seen by the Scottish Government's shameful Christmas campaign about domestic abuse because it only features, as ever, women as victims (link, link). No mention of male victims whatsoever.

The Scottish Government TV adverts, entitled "I Soar" (link), will highlight the help that is available to those experiencing domestic abuse (women-only!). It will coincide with a new protocol outlining how the police and courts should deal with domestic violence cases. The adverts, voiced by actress Daniela Nardini, will began on Boxing Day.

Unveiling the campaign, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell, said "Christmas is a time when many families are affected by domestic abuse and calls to the helpline and police increase. I hope that many women will see this year's adverts and take the first steps towards seeking help to rid their lives of domestic abuse."

Stewart Maxwell obviously does not give a damn about help that male victims (and their children) may need.

This campaign is shameful because despite there own statistics, they wilfully and purposely continue to ignore male victims. It is no different of course to the UK Government (link).

JUSTICE GAP FOR MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REVEALED

Picking up a theme in The ManKind Initiative charity's submission (link) to a Crown Prosecution Service Review on Domestic Violence, new CPS crime figures show there is a justice gap for male victims.

The justice gap is because whilst the British Crime Survey (link) and other statistics show that men make up 40% - 43% of all victims of domestic violence, why do the police report low figures (if they do at all) and why are there so few females prosecuted.

The new CPS figures (In a report called Violence Against Women - page 18 onwards - link) show that of the 63,819 (2007-08) completed prosecutions, only 3,770 (5.9%) of those prosecuted were women. This was an increase from 2,579 (5.2%) in 2005-06, effectively 46% increase in three years.

 

As the CPS' training on domestic violence, all their information/leaflets are women-only and fact that they only really believe that women can be victims, it means there is a justice gap for male victims of 37% (43% minus 5.9%). It is difference between the reported victims rate and the prosecution rate.

This difference is an injustice and if it was the other way round (a justice gap for women) it would make the headlines, instead it is ignored. 

WILL NEW CONTACT ORDER PUNISHMENTS ACTUALLY BE WORTH THE PAPER?

Today, could be a red letter day for all those men who find that their lawful contact with their children is being stopped by recalcitrant ex-wife.

As reported here (Telegraph):-

"Mothers...will be hit with tough punishments for breaking contact orders handed down by family courts. They can be sentenced to up to 100 hours of unpaid work in the community for breaking the orders, with the penalty doubling to 200 hours and a fine if they fail to abide by the punishment.

In addition, parents can be forced to attend therapy sessions and parenting lessons in the terms of the contact orders.

The new rules come into effect from Monday in provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 that aim to strengthen the power of the authorities to deal with parents who block contact."

The biggest single cause for groups such as (Real) Fathers For Justice et al has been that the judges and courts have simply refused to enforce the contact orders that have been handed down. Aided and abetted by weak enforcement, CAFCASS officers who nearly always side with the mother, a legion of mothers have been successful in stopping their children from seeing their father.

The isue here though, is that whilst these will help, it is likely that onlyy in the most extreme cases will they be used. This is because the 'special pleaders' of the family law industry (lawyers, social services, CAFCASS etc) will tell judges looking to punish mothers that it will do more damage to the children. It means they will be used sparingly and will not be the norm so the likelihood is that recalcitrant mothers will continue to get away with it.

For evidence, the quote in the Telegraph article, says:-  

But others claim the new sanctions will criminalise mothers and fathers unnecessarily, and point out that single parents will struggle to find the time to attend courses as well as meeting the costs, which could reach £2,500.

Of course, if all mothers actually abided by the contact orders, then none would fall foul of the new punishments, would they!!

THREE REAL-LIFE CASES OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AGAINST MEN

Whenever anyone hears claims that domestic violence and domestic abuse does not occur against men or is not that serious, then these, amongst many cases should be sent to the non-believer.

News Shopper

Bury Free Press

Metro

The Bury one is disturbing because the sentence is an absolute joke. Can you imagine the outcry if it was a man who had thrown a knife at a woman for not cleaning the kitchen properly!