A landmark bipartisan report was released today by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs. The report of the Inquiry into Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence is the first to recognise the significant level of family violence suffered by men and boys, primarily at the hands of female perpetrators, and has made key recommendations as a result.
Mr Greg Andresen, senior researcher with the One in Three Campaign, welcomed the findings.
"For too long some lobby groups have denied that men are the victims of family violence in significant numbers, mainly at the hands of women perpetrators. This report is significant because the Committee has looked beyond the vested interests of some of these lobby groups and focused on the facts. Roughly one in three victims of family violence is male," Mr Andresen said.
"For too long male victims have been made to suffer in silence and shame. We welcome this report, and thank the Committee for its dedication to the truth."
Among the findings, the Committee recommended:
- "…that the next National Plan be inclusive of the diversity of victim-survivors. In particular, the next plan should recognise the rights and needs of women; children in their own right; men; older Australians; LGBTQI people; and people living with a disability." [Recommendation 3]
- "…that the next National Plan be named the National Plan to reduce family, domestic and sexual violence" [Recommendation 5]
- "…that the Australian Government commission research into the prevalence of family, domestic and sexual violence against men, and its impact on male victim-survivors...." [Recommendation 54]
- "...that the Department of Social Services review the adequacy of advice and referral services for men as victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence." [Recommendation 54]
Mr Andresen urged the Federal Government to adopt these recommendations, and said that there needed to be a focus on victims, whoever they were, and not solely on victims of one gender.
"It is important that these landmark bipartisan recommendations are recognised for what they are, and that the Federal Government implement them as soon as possible. We want to stamp out all domestic violence, but that can only happen when we stamp out violence against men and boys, as well as violence against women and girls. The rights of all victims should be treated equally."
Mr Andresen said it was also important that some lobby groups cease campaigning against male victims simply because they are men.
"There are male victims of domestic violence out there - quite a lot of them. They need to be recognised, and services put in place to look after them. None of them wanted to be a victim," Mr Andresen said.
The bipartisan view of the Committee warned against some lobby groups discriminating against male victims, and that there is no room for such behaviour in view of the "whole of society response" the Committee said was "vital."
