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The Mankind Initiative. Public Sector Equality Duty and Communications. Public sector equality duty. Public sector equality duty made up of a general equality duty which applies to public authorities – gender equality duty subsumed Came into force 5 April 2011 as part of Equality Act 2010
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The Mankind Initiative • Public Sector Equality Duty • and Communications
Public sector equality duty • Public sector equality duty made up of a general equality duty which applies to public authorities – gender equality duty subsumed • Came into force 5 April 2011 as part of Equality Act 2010 • Due regard to: • advance equality of opportunity for those with protected characteristics (gender) • Thereby: • remove or minimise disadvantages suffered people by protected characteristic • meet needs of those if different from needs of other people
Do you comply? • Responsibility to ensure there are sufficient domestic abuse/violence services to • meet the needs of male victims (and their • children) • meet needs of female victims (and • their children) • Place yourself in the shoes of a male and a female victim – • what journey would you take?
Five step checklist - Knowledge • What do you know about male and female victims in • your community? • Local police figures (c20%:80%) • British Crime Survey (c33%:66%) • Accident and Emergency • GP’s • Solicitors • Housing Departments • CAB • Homeless charities/Salvation Army • Women’s Aid/Refuge/third sector
Five step checklist – Service map • What services are available for female and male • victims in community? • emergency housing support (refuge/safe house) • charities • men’s groups • specialist solicitors • IDVAs • Map any gaps
Five step checklist – Policy making and policy delivery • Are male victims integral part of policy and decision-making • process, and are they integral to the application of policy on • the ground? • Domestic violence strategy • Community safety • Emergency housing provision • Domestic abuse forums (does anyone represent men?) • Gender equality duty compliance report • “Oh by the way, some men can also be victims” does not • constitute compliance.
Five step checklist - Training • Are all those that come into contact with domestic • abuse victims trained to recognise, believe and • support male and female victims? • housing officers • community safety officers • police officers • GP’s • nurses • solicitors
Five step checklist - Awareness • How will you make • men • employers • friends • society, and, • service providers • aware men are victims too?
The journey for men and women • Have you built a route to freedom for male victims and • have you provided the means to get there? • Have you got the knowledge? • Have you got the services? • Are male services included in policy creation and delivery • Are your staff trained? • Are men aware of the help you have to offer? • Statutory duty to ensure men (and their children) receive the support • they need. Can be different support but must have the same choices • and opportunities for freedom as women do.
Communicatingto male victims • Men do not recognise they are a victim • Society does not recognise men are • victims too • Public authorities do not do enough to • ask/encourage men – do they ask?
Men staying quiet • Victims of partner abuse (2010/11) – British Crime Survey • One in four calls to helpline are not from the male victims themselves
Additional male barriers Additional barriers why men will not tell the authorities: Concern about whether there is help Lack of recognition / less of a man Concern about whether will be believed Concern about children Lack of encouragement
Campaigns – Five principles • Why: so men know men are victims, they will be believed and there is help out there. • What: separate/reciprocal campaigns or same campaigns but must spell out ‘male and female. • Gender neutral ‘all victims’ campaigns men just assume are for women – must say ‘man’ in any campaigns
Campaigns – Five principles • How: posters, leaflets, websites, adverts, • announcements, leadership speeches, survivor case studies, men that men can relate to (sport) • Where: where men go/where a man would not be with partner - websites, pubs, employers, garages, service stations, business pages, sports pages/clubs, football programmes etc • .
Campaigns – Five principles • When: where a man would not be with a partner - weekday not school term or weekend. • Tie into national domestic violence week, sports events or International Men’s Day (19 Nov)
Summary • Public sector equality duty applies to both female and male victims • Place yourself in the shoes of a female and • male victim within your community and/or • service users • Ensure men and society recognise men are • victims too