Leading UK male victims charity, We Are Survivors, has launched its MANifesto calling for the needs of male victims and survivors to be addressed in the next Parliament. The announcement comes as the UK prepares for a General Election on July 4th, with political parties outlining their plans for the country and the public questioning candidates on important issues.
Founder and CEO of We Are Survivors, Duncan Craig OBE, believes that it is crucial for organizations in Civil Society to clearly communicate how candidates can help address the issues and causes that the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise sector is dealing with.
“As a charity leader, I believe it is essential to hold truth to power. While every individual has the right to make their own decision on election day, we must also provide all parties and candidates with information on our causes and highlight areas where change can be made for the better.”
Duncan, a sexual abuse survivor himself, has been involved in many political discussions for several years. However, this is the first time the charity has published an official request.
“What we are asking of all political leaders, parties, and candidates is something we have been advocating for in our work for many years. We want to ensure that these discussions continue in the next Parliament and that we collectively make a greater effort in tackling sexual abuse, rape, sexual violence, and all sexual offenses. We must do everything in our power to create a society where no male survivor is left behind, and we actively engage in difficult conversations to end this epidemic of sexual violence.”
We Are Survivors has recently launched three new projects aimed at raising awareness of male survivors and providing professionals, supporters, and survivors with the tools to aid healing. These include the quarterly digital magazine, Beyond The Silence, which features an exclusive interview with Baby Reindeer creator, Richard Gadd. The charity has also partnered with North West HIV Charity George House Trust to address the impact of ChemSex and drug-facilitated sexual activity through their project, On It. Additionally, their collaboration with Mandem Meetup aims to train allies to better support male survivors through their We’re Allies program.
In February 2025, the organization will celebrate its 16th anniversary. The MANifesto launch further solidifies their commitment to advocating for male survivors and creating a society where they are not forgotten.
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