Male Victims of Sexual Violence matter, Mr Mayor. Why aren't you doing more to help them?

The rape and sexual abuse of men and boys is one of the least recognised, discussed or reported crimes in our society. Despite this stigma, more men in London are coming forward to report sexual assaults and taking the courageous step of asking for help:

In 2014, in London, 307 men reported being raped to the Metropolitan Police – an increase of 120% over 2012 figures

to the Metropolitan Police – an increase of 120% over 2012 figures In 2014, in London, 518 men reported experiencing a serious sexual assault to the Metropolitan Police – an increase of 80% over 2012 figures

to the Metropolitan Police – an increase of 80% over 2012 figures In 2014, in London, 20% + of all reports of serious sexual crimes were against men

+ of all reports of serious sexual crimes were against men In London, in 2014, it is estimated that there are more than 300,000 adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse

In 2014, in London, The Mayor spent £1,292,666 providing specialist support services for victims of sexual assault in London.

Of that, £32,666 (2.5%) was spent on specialist services supporting men and boys.

In July 2014, a review of victim services in London led by Baroness Newlove and commissioned by the Mayor highlighted the lack of support for “male victims of abuse” and made it one of 4 priority areas for the Mayor to remedy through the application of £15,000,000+ additional funding now being provided to the Mayor to meet the needs of London victims.

In 2015, in London, funding to specialist male sexual violence services has been cut to £0.

There is no indication that male victims of rape and sexual abuse in London will receive any specialist emotional support funded by their Mayor. Yet just 2% of this new funding would provide robust support for adult male victims.

Male survivors of rape and sexual abuse, like their female counterparts, have needs that cannot be met in generic counselling or victim support services. Funding from the Mayor would secure the delivery of specialist individual counselling support to these vulnerable men. It would provide safe therapeutic spaces for men who have never met another male survivor. It would ensure that these men have advocates to support them through the difficulties of pursuing legal justice for sexual crimes committed against them. It would give male survivors in London the opportunity to begin a journey of healing and recovery.

But more importantly, it would publicly recognise them as a group of people whose experiences and care matter.

Withholding that recognition and support adds insult to injury for a group of victims who struggle to speak in the face of a society that largely denies their existence. The Mayor’s administration would prefer that they remain faceless, helpless and silent.

A male survivor writes :

"I still think about what happened, not only about the actual night but also what happened next and the treatment I received. Sadly it wasn’t a TV drama where everyone was sympathetic, understanding, and the bad guy was caught, leaving me to get on with my life.

However, I was lucky in some respects. And I'd now say I'm in a very good place in my life. I'm successful in my job, I'm on the board of a charity that changes people's lives on a daily basis, I'm happy in myself, and most importantly I've got the love and support of the man I met when I was 18. When I was going through therapy three years ago, I didn't imagine I'd have any of these things, and there were times when I was contemplating suicide.

However, the support I received … was instrumental in saving my life, and giving me the confidence not to let my rape define who I am. Without them, I would have been just getting by, still afraid of my own shadow. But instead I'm now living without fear or shame, with confidence and strength."

Please help the Mayor to hear the voice of these victims. Join this petition and ask the Mayor of London to recognise and support male victims of rape and sexual abuse and to appropriately and proportionately fund services that support them to heal and recover from their experiences.