TO

[email protected], [email protected]

SUBJECT:

End Systematic Violations of the Social Rights of Boy and Man Domestic Abuse Victims

BODY:

Department of the European Social Charter

Conseil de l'Europe Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law Agora Council of Europe [email protected] www.coe.int/socialcharter

Scottish Human Rights Commission http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/ [email protected]

Abuse against boys and men is often trivialized:

"Traditional stereotypes have led to double standards that often cause women’s violence—especially against men—to be trivialized."

Time.com Cathy Young @CathyYoung63 June 25, 2014 http://time.com/2921491/hope-solo-women-violence/

This despite studies showing that 40% of boys and men are victims of abuse.

More than 40% of domestic violence victims are male, report reveals Campaign group Parity claims assaults by wives and girlfriends are often ignored by police and media Denis Campbell The Observer, Saturday 4 September 2010 http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/sep/05/men-victims-domestic-violence

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. My statements are made as a layperson.

Reddit user /u/tomroberts300 tells of his experience of being continuously abused verbally, emotionally, and physically by his girlfriend. He also explains how the police in Scottland ignored his testimony, ignored phyical evidence of his abuse, intimidated witnesses such as his flat mate, and helped his abuser drive him to attempt suicide. Afterwards, he was prevented access to victims services and rotted in jail until he felt forced to plead guilty, all to ensure that he would not be allowed his right to confront his abuser in open court, and to prevent him from accessing services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, because of his sex, and because of the sex of his abuser (and therefore his sexual orientation).

http://np.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/2bxo3w/domestic_violence_and_scottish_law/

These apparently criminal acts appear to be violations of /u/tomroberts300's social rights under the European Social Charter, including, but not limited to:

http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/035.htm

Preamble, this victim was denied his rights on the basis of sex, in violation of the preamble.

Part 1, 13. "social and medical assistance". Denied access to services for victims of domestic violence, including counseling and protection.

Part 1, 13. "social welfare services" same

Article 13, denied social and medical assistance as a victim of domestic violence.

Article 16, rights of the family, the victim's family was harassed as a result of his abuser's behavior, and was not protected.

Articles 21 and 22. This discrimination against male victims of domestic and sexual violence is common. Any reports claiming that it does not exist are false and violations of these articles.

Article 31: being threatened by police and refused access to the justice system, this victim's rights were restricted in violation of this article.

I will urge reddit user /u/tomroberts300 to contact you directly, and seek the advice of a lawyer expert in EU civil rights law.

I urge you to act with kindness towards boys and men who are victims of domestic violence, caring towards boys and men who are victims of sexual violence, faithfulness to the law, and truthfulness with the public, protecting all victims including boys and men, and acting in the interests of justice. Victims depend on you to protect them from crime.

Until you do, victims must hope for justice, and persevere.