Cambridgeshire MP's bid to keep violence against men and boys law on agenda
The Bill is unlikely to make Government plans in today's King's Speech
Ahead of today's King's Speech, a local MP hopes plans to tackle violence against men and boys will still be on the Government's radar.
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty first brought forward a Bill looking at the issue last year.
But it's unlikely it will be included in the Government's planned laws for the year ahead.
"I think this is a really good opportunity to highlight something that necessarily doesn't get the attention it needs and deserves," Mr Obese-Jecty said.
"As a result, we've managed to make some progress so fingers crossed the Government delivers."
What is the Bill?
Last year, Mr Obese-Jecty led a debate on the plans as part of a Ten Minute Rule motion in the House of Commons.
The Bill calls on the Government to draw up a strategy to halve the number of cases of abuse and violence against males.
It also asks for measures to "identify and meet the specific needs of male victims of interpersonal abuse and violence", as well as improve reporting rates for this type of abuse and provide funding to bring in the strategy.
In the debate, Mr Obese-Jecty told the House that the Bill "in no way detracts from the work already done and still to be done in tackling violence against women and girls.
"The Bill simply aims to ensure that male victims of those crimes have a dedicated strategy that reflects the differing nature of their circumstances and ensures that male survivors are recognised and receive appropriate support."
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show one in four adults sexually assaulted in the UK each year is a man, while 3.5% of boys become victims of child sexual abuse before they turn 16.
A report by the charity Women’s Aid published last year found as of May 2024, there were 50 refuges in England with bed spaces for men.
A total of 63,950 people supported in safe accommodation in that period, with 1,830 being men.
"I have no experience of those types of incidents, but you come into politics to try and make a difference and if you can make a small difference that has a good effect on how somebody else is able to live their life, that's a real benefit," Mr Obese-Jecty said.
Mark Doye was sexually abused by his father at six-years-old, while Mark's sister was also targeted.
In 2024, Brian Doye was found guilty of 28 counts of child sex offences and sentenced to 28 years in prison, plus an extra two years' licence period after a trial at Swansea Crown Court.
Speaking to us previously, Mark backs the idea of a new law in the hope more cases can be reported.
"It's that stigma that you're not a man and we just shy away from it; we need a clear campaign with the Government where you know that you can come out and you will help other men and boys," he said.
"It will help knowing there's a law, but unless people are educated, they still won't report and if they won't report, we will never get a true indication of how big a problem this is going to be."
VAWG funding shortfall
Earlier this year, campaigners gathered outside Parliament to call for more funding for safer accommodation and refuge services.
It came as domestic abuse charity Refuge warned an annual shortfall of £55.5 million in fundings means the Government's plans to halve violence against women and girls within a decade falls short.
“We’re treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency," a Government spokesperson said.
“That’s why we’ve announced almost £500m to help councils provide support in safe accommodation for survivors, including refuges and Sanctuary Schemes, so they can get the safety and stability they deserve.”