In 2009, the founders of the One in Three Campaign felt that we could no longer retain our moral or intellectual integrity by ignoring the authoritative and growing body of data indicating males make up a substantial proportion of victims of family violence and abuse.
While welcoming the advances that have taken place over recent decades to support women and children suffering from violence, we acknowledge that there is a comparative lack of programs, services and support to help men in the same situation. We feel that it is unjust and inequitable to abhor only that violence done to women and children while ignoring, downplaying or denying violence done to men.
Awareness and support for male victims of family violence has improved markedly since we commenced. Many government domestic violence websites now have support pages for male victims, as does Mensline Australia. Many services that were previously only available to women have been opened up to men. Most government inquiries and Royal Commissions have recommended improved research into, and services for, male victims. There is however still a long way to go before male victims receive equitable levels of support, e.g. there are still no safe rooms for men at court houses nor places in refuges for fathers and children, and male victims presenting at many services are still presumed to be perpetrators.
You can get involved in a number of ways. Join our growing Facebook community. Follow us on Twitter. Add your name to the growing list of supporters of the campaign. Spread the word about the Campaign. If you are a male victim, please have the courage to tell your story so that other men will know they are not alone. Thank you for your support.
The One in Three Campaign Founders
19th November 2009