Sir, - I refer to recent reports regarding the setting up of "Firstcontact", the helpline for male perpetrators of domestic violence which is funded by a grant of £25,000 from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Amen has been running an unfunded helpline for men who are suffering from domestic abuse, which has been contacted by over 3,500 men and concerned members of their families since it was set up in December 1997. This helpline and the voluntary support service we provide has proven to be a tremendous source of comfort and support for many men who have been suffering silently and alone in abusive situations.
The "Firstcontact" initiative is described in the newspapers as a "pilot project" to deal with circumstances in which men are perpetrators of violence and women are victims. The need for a helpline to assist men who are victims has already been clearly established. The reality of the plight of the male victim is becoming more widely recognised throughout society, yet there appears to be a stubborn refusal at official level to acknowledge and deal with this serious social problem. This is despite the fact that Ms Mary Wallace, Junior Minister with responsibility for Equality, recently acknowledged that at least 20 per cent of domestic violence victims are men. Substantial financial and other support is now being given by the State to deal with violence against women, yet absolutely no support is being given by the State to help men in similar circumstances. This is clearly discriminatory.
Mr John O'Donoghue, the Minister with responsibility for Justice and Equality, has a duty to ensure that organisations helping men who are being abused also get their fair share of State support. In a letter dated May 21st regarding the lack of funding for Amen, Mr O'Donoghue stated that: "While I have every sympathy with Ms Cleary that she has had to use her own resources to fund her operation, I am sorry that I do not have funding to grant aid the work of Amen." The Minister is at present introducing equal status legislation which prohibits discrimination on various grounds, including gender, in the provision of goods and services. Isn't it contrary to his Government's alleged equality ethos to discriminate against men's support groups in this way?
The Amen helpline, which operates for up to 16 hours a day, has been a lifeline for hundreds of men since it was set up, but without Government support its future viability cannot be guaranteed. It is unacceptable that ordinary citizens should have to provide this service on a voluntary basis, at considerable expense to themselves, without any State support.
I have therefore again asked the Minister to provide a similar grant to assist Amen in providing a helpline and support services for male victims. Thanks again to your newspaper for continuing to highlight this serious social injustice and I will keep you and your readers informed of any developments. - Yours, etc., Mary T. Cleary, Co-ordinator, Amen,
Navan, Co Meath.