Greater Manchester has become the first place in the UK to launch a dedicated plan of action for tackling gender-based violence against men and boys.

The plan has been launched on International Men's Day (Tuesday, November 19) and sets out how Greater Manchester will tackle domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment towards men and boys, raise awareness of support services and reporting mechanisms, and expand training for professionals.

Recent data from Greater Manchester police shows that one in five recorded offences of rape and sexual assault in the year ending June 2024 involved male victims.

The plan has been co-authored by the founder and Chief Executive of We Are Survivors, Duncan Craig OBE, Professor of criminology at the University of Manchester, David Gadd, alongside the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and partners and organisations across the city-region working to end gender-based violence, support victims, and work with perpetrators.

The launch of the new plan follows the publication of the city-region’s pioneering 10-year Gender-Based Violence Strategy three years ago, which included a commitment to develop a dedicated plan for men and boys.

Kate Green, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities said:“Our plan aims to reduce gender-based violence against men and boys, encourage them to seek help and live well, and ensure high-quality, accessible services across Greater Manchester.

"We are committed to a trauma-informed and responsive, inclusive approach that addresses the specific needs of male victims and recognises the complex power dynamics and intersectional challenges they face."

Discussing the data released by GMP, the Deputy Mayor added: "Sadly, we know the actual cases of gender-based abuse and violence affecting men and boys is much higher as they are less likely to report cases to the police.

“This is why it’s so important to have a bespoke plan for male victims that ensures the right support and services are available and that professionals understand the distinct needs of male victims, particularly those from minoritised communities.

“We are very grateful to our partners and the experts that have helped to develop this plan as an extension of our 10-year strategy and our unwavering commitment to making our communities safer and stronger.”  

Duncan Craig OBE, founder and Chief Executive of We Are Survivors, a Greater Manchester based charity supporting male survivors of sexual abuse, rape and sexual exploitation, and a survivor himself, said: “In the absence of a coherent national strategy that tackles gender-based violence against men and boys, Greater Manchester is leading the way in launching our own plan, which addresses the full range of violence, abuse and exploitation in which men or boys are victims, and in which their gender, sexuality or intimate relationships are motivating or prevailing factors in their suffering.

“Victims of gender-based violence face numerous barriers to reporting and seeking support, including fear of disbelief, social ostracism, and lack of awareness about available help.

"For male victims, there are additional challenges such as societal expectations about masculinity, fear of homophobic reactions, and concerns about the consequences of disclosure.

“It is crucial to recognise the complex power dynamics in abusive relationships and prioritise support for all victims, addressing their specific needs. Developing comprehensive support for male victims is essential, if we are to truly tackle gender-based violence"

In January 2020, Britain’s most prolific rapist Reynard Sinaga was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years for committing 136 rapes against 48 men, with GMP holding evidence that over a 30-month period, Sinaga raped over 200 men – the majority of whom identified as ‘straight’.

Sinaga's case shone a spotlight on the considerable barriers men face in reporting experiences of victimisation.

In Greater Manchester, the average time taken by male victims to report sexual assault to police is four years and less than four per cent of reports result in a charge.

The plan will see the extension of the housing reciprocal to male victims of domestic abuse and violence.

An arrangement between the 10 boroughs across the city-region, the reciprocal ensures that victims can be rehomed in suitable housing in any borough.

Previously victims of domestic abuse could only be rehomed within their borough, which often led to further trauma or abuse.

The plan includes Greater Manchester investing in independent domestic violence advisors to specialise in supporting men and boys and support ambitions to be a trauma-responsive city-region,

A male victims service coordinator role will also be established, to help enhance therapeutic and advice services.

The plan will also see the creation of pathways for victims at risk of committing sexual offences or causing harm, including through work with the Violence Reduction Unit.

Duncan Craig and David Gadd are members of Greater Manchester’s Gender-Based Violence Board, set up in December 2021 as part of the launch of the 10-year Gender-Based Violence Strategy.