Dad's In Distress

MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - WED 21ST NOVEMBER 2007

Do we ignore violence against men?

This Sunday is White Ribbon Day (WRD) and the start of the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women. However the 2005 Personal Safety Australia survey found that in the past 12 months almost twice as many men as women (808,300) were victims of all types of violence; twice as many men as women (485,400) were victims of physical assault; nearly a third of sexual assault victims were men; 864,300 men were harassed and 110,700 men were stalked. The same study found that men were almost as likely as women to experience physical violence within the home (half from females, half from males) and were just as likely as women to experience physical violence from perpetrators who were known to them. Yet the WRD campaign focuses solely on the prevention of violence against women by men.

An international coalition of professionals and academics has come out in unequivocal support of anti-violence initiatives, but is concerned that this annual spotlight on violence against women tends to conceal the fact that males are far more likely than females to be assaulted or killed and make up a significant proportion of victims of domestic violence. They are calling on the media to be aware that crime statistics, based on reports to police, are an inaccurate reflection of the extent of domestic violence within the community, as men who are physically assaulted by women are less likely to report it than are women assaulted by men. However, despite this underreporting, 29% of victims of notified domestic violence and 26% of intimate partner homicide victims are men - all of whom are absent in policy provisions. There is very little recognition of women's violence, yet more than a quarter of physical assaults on women are committed by other women. There is also little acknowledgment that violence is most prevalent amongst young people, and is causally linked to social disadvantage, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

The White Ribbon Day campaign tells us that "violence against women is the product of learned attitudes and norms." University of Western Sydney academic Micheal Woods explains, "I think many people would disagree that Australian cultural norms support violence against women, but would readily admit that our culture accepts violence against males." He quotes a 2001 national survey of 5,000 young people aged 12-20, in which the authors noted that "males hitting females was seen, virtually by everyone, to be unacceptable, however, it appeared to be quite acceptable for a girl to hit a boy". They also found "there was no spontaneous recognition that verbal abuse or a female hitting her boyfriend could also constitute dating violence... however these were among the prevalent forms of violence occurring".

Researcher Greg Andresen from menshealthaustralia.net suggests "international large population-based research shows women initiate domestic violence as often as men, use weapons more than men, that men suffer one-third of injuries, and that self-defence explains only a small portion of domestic violence by either sex. We're concerned that male victims have been unfairly ignored in these anti-violence campaigns and this contributes to the intergenerational cycle of domestic violence. When male victims are ignored, their kids suffer long-term damage by the exposure and are themselves more likely to commit violence as adults."

The coalition of experts is asking Australians to set aside the next 16 days to consider all victims of violence, no matter what their gender, age, ethnicity or sexuality. They are seeking the involvement of the entire community, including government, NGOs, and men's and women's groups, in the establishment of a new national broad anti-violence campaign.

Media contacts:
Micheal Woods m.woods@uws.edu.au Mob: 0414 710 696
Greg Andresen media@menshealthaustralia.net Mob: 0403 813 925

This media release is an excerpt from a larger paper at menshealthaustralia.net/files/WRD07.pdf

Canberra Placard Protest - Wednesday 13 February 2008

Members of the Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting)/Fairness In
Child Support (F.I.C.S) will hold a placard protest. This will be outside
Parliament House on Wednesday, 13 February 2008.

Wednesday, 13 February 2008 will be "Sorry Day" at Parliament.

The theme of the placards will be "Fatherless Children" and our "Stolen
Children".

Nothing will be done to take away from the significance of the day for the
Aboriginal Community.

Location of the Protest: Car-park Entrance for the Federal Politicians at
Parliament House, Canberra. This is located on the eastern side of the
Parliament (not the main entrance, which is on the northern side).

Time: Between 6.00AM and 11.00AM

Contact Persons:

Roland Foster
Mobile 0439310789
Email: rollyf1@yahoo.com.au

Roland was one of the NSW Senate candidates for the NCPP(EP) at the 2007
Federal Election. Roland is also Secretary of the Fairness In Child
Support group.

John Flanagan
Mobile 0415 899 574
Email: ncpp@xisle.info
and fics01@hotmail.com

John was the NCPP(EP) candidate for Cunningham (Wollongong) at the 2007
Federal Election

Neville Edwards
Mobile: 0431054805
Email: nevedd@yahoo.com

Everyone is Welcome.

Sufficient placards have already been made

Regards

John Flanagan
Deputy Registered Officer,
Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting)
http://ncpp.xisle.info
http://fics.xisle.info

Dad's In Distress

Mediaman does not represent Dad's In Distress