Sweden has opened the world's first rape centre for male sexual violence victims.

The hospital at Södersjukhuset opened as part of a strategy to ensure 'gender equal' patient care.

It already runs a walk-in clinic for women and girls who have been sexually assaulted in the city, treating between 600-700 patients a year.

Södersjukhuset hospital (pictured) has opened the world's first rape centre for male sexual violence victims

And now the hospital will provide the same round-the-clock care for the men and boys who are victims of rape and sex attacks.

Rasmus Jonlund, a press spokesman for the Liberal Party, which led the campaign for the department in the Swedish capital, told The Local: 'We are happy that we now can finally open the first rape clinic for men following the rape clinic for women.

'We think it is the first in the world. We haven't found another from our research on the world wide web.'

According to The Local, the opening was celebrated by the Liberal Party's centre-right Alliance partners in Stockholm City Council, the Moderates, which are the largest group in the capital's coalition, the Christian Democrats and the Centre Party.

'Emergency medical care for raped men will be free of charge, and offered around the clock, all year,' said Marie Ljungberg Schött, a local Moderate Party party politician and council representative on emergency care in a statement.

'So far there has been no specific place for men who are victims of rape to turn to. Therefore we in the Alliance have decided to change this.'

In 2014, some 370 cases of sexual assault on men or boys were reported across Sweden

In 2014, some 370 cases of sexual assault on men or boys were reported across Sweden, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, although experts believe that the actual figure is much higher, say The Local. Sweden has the highest rape rate in Europe.

Mr Jonlund said he didn't know how many people would use the service but said they knew that there were many who experience assaults and don't seek care.

He said: 'Our hope now is that many more of these hidden victims will also be able to get help now.'

Inger Björklund, a spokeswoman for the group told The Local in June that it was looking forward to the opening of Stockholm's new facility.

'There are myths about masculinity that make it difficult for men who have been sexually traumatized to talk about their experiences,' she said.

'A clinic focusing on men who have been sexually abused will contribute to the awareness of experiences of sexual abuse among men and make it more possible to meet men's needs.'