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Battered men need their own shelters

Apr 12 2009 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

THE number of battered husbands and partners is growing so rapidly that it has been suggested women’s refuges open their doors to male victims.

But Women’s Aid say its constitution forbids it from taking in battered men, adding that alternatives should be found instead of threatening its own funding under equality laws.

Judith Farquharson, a trustee of Newcastle’s Women’s Aid, said: “Councils and the Government need to understand that there should be two services, one for women and a separate one for men.

“The stigma is slowly being removed for male victims and they now feel they can come forward.

“This is because there has been a real change in recent years in the way agencies deal with both male and female victims and there is much more awareness of domestic violence.

“But more money needs to be put into the system and extra found to support a separate male service. After all, a victim is a victim regardless.”

Some councils have threatened to cut funding to groups like Women’s Aid unless they take in male victims and provide counselling for men.

This is because councils are interpreting changes in equality laws to mean that all services and groups they fund must be gender neutral.

According to Susan Ford, manager of Darlington Women’s Refuge, their constitution states only women and children can be admitted to their shelter.

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