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The Elm Foundation shares their experiences, successes, and barriers in addressing the needs of male victims of forced marriage and honour based violence. They highlight the lack of resources and awareness, and emphasize the importance of speaking out and providing necessary support.
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HBV and Forced Marriage Roadshow 2018 Jennifer Calverley – The Elm Foundation Introduction The Elm Foundation has existed since 1985 working with female victims of domestic abuse including forced marriage and honour based violence
What I would like to tell you today? Our work with male victims of forced marriage and honour based violence Experiences Barriers Successes
Problem – we were turning away men, no where to send them! • In 2009 The Elm Foundation began to receive an influx of requests to support male victims • We were being seen as a gender neutral service • Did we have the resources available / capabilities and knowledge? • What could we do?
What we did • We opened a male refuge One of only ten in the country
We didn’t expect this? • In the first year we worked with 14 men and 6 children in the male refuge • Out of the 14 men who came into refuge 7 were either honour based violence or forced marriage • We looked at the numbers of referrals that were declined and could see we had refused due to lack of bed space a further 8 male victims of HBV / FM
Our experiences – what we found • We had underestimated the problem • High numbers of HBV and FM • Lack of information / training / data • Others do not recognise the problem • Lack of male refuge bed space • Lack of funding
How to change and move forward? • First, we need to talk about it • We need to speak out against it • We need to believe those who are coming to us for help • We need to listen • Provide tools they need to get help • We need to raise awareness and generate change
