First refuges for battered husbands offer support to male victims (UK)
The Next Steps Housing Association has created 100 places in 35 refuge houses across Northamptonshire for husbands and partners of abusive women. Spokesperson Dawn Hardie said while researching domestic violence refuges she discovered there was virtually no system of support for men who had been beaten by their partners. She said: 'There is still a very strong stigma attached to men who say they have been the victims of domestic violence. "Statistically, men are more likely to be killed in domestic violence cases than women, and yet we found there was absolutely nowhere for these men to go to escape." As well as offering places to male victims, the charity will take on women victims who have older male children and want to be re-homed together.
