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A south Suffolk organisation is backing the efforts of a national anti-domestic violence awareness campaign by focussing on the little discussed subject of violence against men.
The Babergh Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum brings together a number of groups - including Babergh District Council - in order to share best practice and improve working arrangements. All of the organisations who attend the Forum may have victims of domestic abuse turn to them and so they understand the need to be able to deal with that sensitively and professionally.
According to Ann Scott, Babergh’s Community Safety Officer “with White Ribbon Week coming up (actually the campaign runs over two weeks from November 25 to December 15), the Forum this year wanted to address the taboo subject of domestic violence against men. In particular, we hope to re-emphasise the message both that domestic abuse in Babergh is ALWAYS unacceptable and that victims of domestic abuse are not alone and deserve the opportunity to access help and support from local agencies”.
“Although not as prevalent as violence against women (1 in 3 women suffer domestic abuse in their intimate relationships, compared to 1 in 6 men in their lifetime, according to the 2006/07 British Crime Survey Report), there is a lot of stigma around men reporting such incidents as they fear being seen as "not a real man". The Forum want to emphasise that it is just as unacceptable for men to suffer from domestic violence as it is women. There will also be signposting for men or women who feel they are abusive towards their partner and need help”.
Babergh Domestic Violence & Abuse Forum will be present at two events to coincide with the White Ribbon awareness campaign:
• A police pod will be located at Sudbury s market outside the Town Hall, on Thursday November 26 from 10am - 2pm. The purpose is to raise general awareness about domestic abuse - the shocking statistics, how to report it and who to turn to for help. A variety of different agencies will be handing out information, help and advice about domestic violence & abuse, including St Matthews Housing, Babergh District Council, Victim Support, Babergh Befriending Service, Probation Service, the Police and many more.
• There will be a Christmas tree at the Sudbury Christmas Tree Festival (November 27). This year's tree is going to be called "Chained Males" and will represent the thousands of men who are trapped in abusive relationships.
There will be information on help lines for men experiencing domestic abuse which will be displayed on notice boards in the main entrance of Sudbury library from Saturday 28th November.
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