Support for abused males
An organisation for non-offending male victims and survivors of rape and abuse has been launched.
South African Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Samsosa) will assist victims and survivors and provide them with information and support in a safe, non-judgmental structure.
This will be achieved by providing information and direction that will lead the victim and assist affected individuals through their journey.
Families South Africa (Famsa East Rand) counsellor Mamorena Liutloileng says there is a need for organisations such as Samsosa, because abused men don’t speak up.
“Male victims don’t want to be mocked, laughed at, belittled or disrespected, so they would rather not come forward for help,” she says.
Liutloileng says male abuse is a very sensitive issue and that victims need more than counselling, but also need support groups and organisations where the process of trauma debriefing can be provided by men.
Samsosa highlights that the rape and sexual abuse of males has been greatly ignored and even disrespected across the world, creating a misconception that it does not exist.
Victims Empowerment Centre (VEC) coordinator in Dawn Park, Constance Msiza, says cases of male abuse are scarce in the area.
Msiza says the centre has never dealt with cases of male sexual abuse, but that cases of parental abuse against boys were once rife.
The launch of Samsosa comes after Women’s Month, where much needed focus on the rights of women and children was placed.
However, Samsosa is aware that these violations are not limited to women and children, but that society may skim over the reality of the abuse of young and adult males.
For more information, contact Samsosa on 071 280 9918, or visit their website at www.samsosa.org.
