The National Institute of Clinical Excellence issued new guidance this week (http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PH50). We and Broken Rainbow sat on the Programme Development Group which not only in itself was a significant development and recognition of male victims – it also helped to ensure the guidance fully covered the issue off. At some stage we will undertake an analysis of what it means for men and also organisations supporting them. The quote we gave to the media was:

“The full recognition of male victims in these welcome guidelines is a crucial landmark in the way we tackle domestic abuse in this country. The fact it clearly sets out the responsibilities that organisations such as local authorities and the NHS have in recognising and supporting male victims is a huge leap forward. No longer should the hundreds of thousands of men who suffer every year find there is no support for them in their local community.”

It was heartening to see that NICE also gave prominence to the figures about men. We hope it is a real wake up call to the health sector, police and councils to ensure their staff are trained to support and recognise male victims juts as they are female victims. Only then can we move to a country where all victims receive the support and recognition based on individual need and not gender – which still remains the predominant and misguided ideology underpinning much in the domestic abuse sector.