Baroness Newlove calls for dedicated strategy to tackle interpersonal violence against men and boys
“This International Men’s Day feels like an opportune moment to amplify these calls, but my commitment to this cause is not confined to any single day,” writes Baroness Newlove.
On International Men’s Day 2024, Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner has written to the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) at the Home Office, urging the government to develop a strategy specifically for male victims of interpersonal violence.
This appeal comes as the government works towards its target of halving violence against women and girls within the next decade, with a new VAWG strategy expected in the Spring.
There is currently no dedicated government strategy specifically addressing interpersonal abuse and violence against men and boys.
Since 2022, the government currently categorizes interpersonal abuse and violence against men and boys, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and harassment, under the broader umbrella of ‘violence against women and girls.’
This is despite calls for just such a strategy from the men’s support sector, who argue that the drivers and impacts of interpersonal violence against men and boys differ significantly from those affecting women and girls.
While supporting the urgent need to address violence against women and girls, Baroness Newlove emphasises in her letter that male victims must not be overlooked.
“Male survivors have unique needs,” Baroness Newlove writes, “and we must ensure these needs are met. We know, for instance, there are harmful misconceptions and stereotypes, including around masculinity, that can act as barriers for male victims when it comes to reporting and seeking help.”
The previous government chose not to pursue a dedicated strategy for male victims, despite pressures to do so from the previous Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird, and leading voices in the men and boys’ support sector.
Instead, in a move Baroness Newlove describes as “regrettable”, the Home Office published a document in 2022 titled Supporting Male Victims as an addendum to the overarching VAWG Strategy and Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. Initially named Supporting male victims of crimes considered violence against women and girls, the title was later revised following public criticism. Despite this change, male victims of interpersonal violence continue to be categorised under the umbrella of ‘violence against women and girls’.
“Male survivors will not identify with this labelling, nor should they have to” warns Baroness Newlove.
In her letter, she calls for the creation of a separate, comprehensive strategy for male victims of interpersonal violence, one that includes specific policies, strategic milestones, and dedicated funding.
“I believe it is beyond time for a dedicated men and boys’ strategy,” she writes. “A tailored approach for male victims of interpersonal violence is essential to developing their rights and ensuring the availability of appropriate support services.”
Baroness Newlove’s appeal is further supported by recent findings from Professor Katrin Hohl, the Independent Advisor to the UK Government on Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Violence.
In her Operation Soteria victim survey, Hohl found that male survivors were less likely than female victims to feel that police protected them or fully investigated their cases. They were also less likely to perceive officers as empathetic or supportive.
The report also identified differences in the types of perpetrators, with men more likely to be victimized by family members or professionals in trusted positions, while women were more often assaulted by current or former partners.
“These findings highlight the need for distinct approaches to prevention, investigation, and support that account for the different experiences and challenges faced by male victims,” Baroness Newlove writes.
In a significant move, Greater Manchester announced today that it has become the first city-region in the UK to launch a dedicated plan for tackling interpersonal violence against men and boys.
In Greater Manchester, the newly launched plan aims to tackle domestic abuse, sexual assault, and harassment toward men and boys, raise awareness of available support services, and provide training for professionals.
Data from Greater Manchester Police reveals that one in five recorded cases of rape and sexual assault in the year ending June 2024 involved male victims. Notably, the case of Reynard Sinaga, Britain’s most prolific rapist, who was sentenced in 2020 for assaulting over 200 men, shone a spotlight on the considerable barriers men face when reporting sexual violence.
In 2024, Greater Manchester Police recorded 9,904 offences of rape and sexual assault, with 1,836 of these cases (approximately one in five) involving male victims.
In her letter, Baroness Newlove urges Jess Philips to “seize this opportunity” and “create both a robust, cross-governmental VAWG strategy and a separate, comprehensive strategy for men and boys, with clear policies, strategic targets, milestones, and sustainable funding arrangements.”
“I have consistently advocated for the rights and needs of men and boys and will continue to do so until we achieve meaningful progress and deliver the support they deserve.”