06/01/2026
As we enter the new year, we remain committed to raising awareness and support for male survivors of sexual abuse and r**e.
You may have seen in the press recently the new strategy Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls has just been launched by the Government, and whilst this strategy is about tackling violence against women and girls, the data and initiatives are also including male victims and survivors.
It is reassuring and positive that the government has also published a statement on the position that the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) includes male victims and published a ‘Men and Boys Explanatory Note’
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695bcbec97f1c5e3c92a8415/31.260_VAWG_05_Men_and_Boys_Explanatory_Note_FINAL_v2_231225.pdf
outlining that the strategy recognises men and boys in their own right.
Within the introduction of the ‘Explanatory Note’, the first page states “This Government recognises that men and boys also experience abusive and violent crimes, including but not limited to, domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence, ‘honour’ based abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, and intimate image abuse.”. Further on within the Strategy it goes on to state that when the Government talks about halving VAWG in a decade ‘men and boys, are considered and integrated into our response throughout the Strategy and our metrics to halve these crimes.”
As First Step is only one of a very small number of organisations that specifically support male survivors of sexual abuse and r**e, it is important that we continue to speak out, to work with and support male survivors ensuring that they feel that they are important, that they feel heard and that they are seen.
