Hi all. I was previously on this forum, but, personal circumstances had me out of action for a while.

Anyway, back now and have been torturing our great politicians already.

Hope to get back out and about on the streets again, letting people know that we are still not happy with the current failings of family law, and the lack of resources for male victims of DV.

I have an interesting email from the Health Minister in N Ireland, regarding a refuge for male victims of DV. It got my blood boiling due to his blatant disregard of reality. I`ll post it on the forum shortly.

Glad to be back.

Pete

Good to have you back! You were missed. It is good to have soldiers returning from leave and the ranks swelled again.

Great to see your return Pete, and with avengance
Looking forward to the email.

Sorry guys, i said email, it was a letter. It was sent to me via MLA whom I contacted initially. Here is the text:

The Rt Honourable Peter D Robinson MP MLA
Strandtown Hall
96 Belmont Avenue
Belfast
BT4 3DE

Thank you for your letter dated 3 September requesting information on behalf of a constituent about the possible provision of refuge accomodation for men who are victime of domestic violence.

As you aware, I have lead responsibility for taking forward policy regarding the tackling of domestic violence and in the Assembly debate on May 29, I confirmed my commitment to delivering on the objectives of our domestic violence Strategy and its associated action plans.

I can assure you and Mr Morris that the Strategy is gender-neutral and aims to provide information and support services to all victims of domestic violence.
DHSSPS and Housing Executive staff are regularly in touch with organisations representing men`s issues; for example Ms Maxine McCutcheon of the Mens Advisory Project (MAP) is a member of our Regional Steering Group on domestic violence, where the voluntary and community sector has a direct input into policy-making.

Indeed we currently fund MAP for the provision of some support and counselling services for male victims of domestic violence and victims in same-sex relationships.

Currently however, there is no evidence of which we are aware that there is a need for the provision of male refuges. Should such evidence be forthcoming, I would certainly be happy to examine and consider the matter further.

Michael McGimpsey MLA
Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety


Personal opinions on letter: What about the 2500 cases reported of DV against men in 2005-2006 (PSNI website)



I have not heard MAP within the public domain. i have not seen any advertisement of MAP anywhere apart from PSNI domestic violence leaflet. I will write to MAP, unless there are members on this forum from MAP, to ascertain just exactly what they do for men and why they are not fighting our corner for a refuge.
Also, there was a steering group set up for the Bill of Rights N Ireland. Women were represented, but there was not one organisation representing men. This is why we need a new breathe of air. We need politics for men established here. MAP are never heard of.

If we have forum members from N Ireland who would like to combine efforts and establish a political mens party, then contact me. We need to get up going and face down these beaurocrats.

I am very interested to hear what you have to say: this is a subject that I feel very strongly about. Please post!

I remember you Pete (saw the great photos which inspired). You've done much 'already' as a good decent concerned man/father.

I too am born of a F4J baptism of reality.

Returned?

No, just a reaffirmation in the eyes of others as to what you've been doing all along.

Welcome, you have friends here.

Marx, Chevalier, Celtic Duid, thanks for the welcome. Thanks very much.

Welcome back RFFJNI.
MAP Dont know much about them but I found they have a website se below. Dont see much on the vast problems young men are facing. The horrific suicide rate of men and employment problems.
Is it just me or do they seem to be a bit on the pc side of things. " anger management" ???

http://www.mapni.co.uk/index.html

Yes Dr Banner, anger management, so in reality by advertising that, they presume men guilty of anger straight away. Note on thier leaflet that they cater for anger management for WOMAN too!!!! Excellent group to represent men with the DHSSPS STeering Group for Domestic Violence isn`t it??!! Also the rep who is a member of this steering group is a woman, what a great set up. Honestly, how can a woman express how a man feels when he is avictim of DV. Begars belief.

I have another great letter to post, i`ll do it tonite, from the NI Court Service. Also a mail from the NIHRC and the N ireland Office, who between them, can`t seem to identify who formed the steering group for the N I Bill of Rights, which had no representatives for men on it.

welcome rffjni-by the sound of that letter u are getting the same ignorance filled replies there,as we get in Canada.Only all my questions are forwarded to the SOW(status of whymen)where i get answers in the form of form letters-nobody listens and nobody wants to listen.
If our governments continue to deny men any kind of help or support and continue making help for men unacceptable and unavailable,then of course men don't need it.I dunno what it will take to open some of these politicians eyes to these injustices against hetrosexual men.

Hi Pete, I don't quite know what happened to you're previous membership (loss of password etc).

However, it is feasible to merge an old membership with a new one. Just send Karl a nice PM, and/or request it here on this thread.

Pointless losing all those good posts unnecessarily.

Yeppers, I had sent a link previoulsy to the 'forgotten password' page so Pete could acquire his original account back. Not sure why it wasn't used, but if he wants the two accounts merged that won't be a problem.