Male survivors of abuse say they feel "ignored" by the Government as crimes against them continue to be classified under "violence against women and girls" policies.
For 15 years, successive governments have grouped male victims of domestic abuse, rape, stalking and honour-based violence into the same category as female victims.
Recent research from the University of Central Lancashire reveals the impact of this approach, with 88 per cent of male survivors believing the Government does not care about them.
The study found 89 per cent said the policy made it harder to get help, while 90 per cent reported feeling invisible.
Duncan Craig OBE, founder of We Are Survivors, highlighted the importance of recognition for male victims.
"Male victims can often feel ignored, negated because we're not even listed and I just think there's something about how important it is to be recognised, to be seen," he said.
He emphasised the impact of visibility on survivors' wellbeing.
"We know from the women and girls strategy how much difference it makes when somebody is seen. I and my fellow male survivors, we want to be seen," Craig added.
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Rob Parkes, 45, from Milton Keynes, shared his experience of surviving an abusive marriage with Victoria Breeden, who was later convicted of attempting to arrange his murder.
"She controlled a lot of my life, she changed my personality to such an extent where I was totally isolated from my friends, my family," he said.
Breeden was eventually imprisoned after trying to orchestrate his murder through various men over a decade following their separation.
Parkes, who authored a book about his ordeal, pointed out that his case would be classified as violence against women under the current system.
"The cultural bias is the assumption that men have to be perpetrators because there's no classification of a male victim - it's a footnote," he added.
A Government spokesperson defended the current classification system in a statement.
"The term 'violence against women and girls' refers to acts of violence or abuse that we know disproportionately affect women and girls," they said.
The spokesperson emphasised that support measures apply to all victims regardless of gender.
"Men and boys can obviously be victims of those crimes as well, and many of the measures we have introduced apply equally to them too," they added.
These measures include new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, strengthened anti-stalking powers and plans for domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms.
Find Out More...
For 15 years, successive governments have grouped male victims of domestic abuse, rape, stalking and honour-based violence into the same category as female victims.
Recent research from the University of Central Lancashire reveals the impact of this approach, with 88 per cent of male survivors believing the Government does not care about them.
The study found 89 per cent said the policy made it harder to get help, while 90 per cent reported feeling invisible.
Duncan Craig OBE, founder of We Are Survivors, highlighted the importance of recognition for male victims.
"Male victims can often feel ignored, negated because we're not even listed and I just think there's something about how important it is to be recognised, to be seen," he said.
He emphasised the impact of visibility on survivors' wellbeing.
"We know from the women and girls strategy how much difference it makes when somebody is seen. I and my fellow male survivors, we want to be seen," Craig added.
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Rob Parkes, 45, from Milton Keynes, shared his experience of surviving an abusive marriage with Victoria Breeden, who was later convicted of attempting to arrange his murder.
"She controlled a lot of my life, she changed my personality to such an extent where I was totally isolated from my friends, my family," he said.
Breeden was eventually imprisoned after trying to orchestrate his murder through various men over a decade following their separation.
Parkes, who authored a book about his ordeal, pointed out that his case would be classified as violence against women under the current system.
"The cultural bias is the assumption that men have to be perpetrators because there's no classification of a male victim - it's a footnote," he added.
A Government spokesperson defended the current classification system in a statement.
"The term 'violence against women and girls' refers to acts of violence or abuse that we know disproportionately affect women and girls," they said.
The spokesperson emphasised that support measures apply to all victims regardless of gender.
"Men and boys can obviously be victims of those crimes as well, and many of the measures we have introduced apply equally to them too," they added.
These measures include new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, strengthened anti-stalking powers and plans for domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms.
Find Out More...