Calls for more support for male victims of domestic violence

According to data published by the organization this Thursday, the Portuguese Association for the Support of Victims (APAV) provided support to a total of 2,598 adult male victims of domestic violence between 2021 and 2023, an increase of 38.8%.

The APAV statement points out that while the prevalence of domestic violence is much higher among women, men are also victims of this crime.

The majority of victims supported by APAV between 2021 and 2023 were women: 25,240, corresponding to 81.1% of the total.

Of the 5,146 domestic violence offenses committed against adult men, the most significant were threats/coercion (1,661 (32.3%)), followed by insult/defamation (1,465) and physical violence (1,368).

According to the data, 25.7% of the victims are aged 65 years or older, 85% of them are Portuguese citizens, with the majority living in Faro district (22.4%).

In 20.4% of cases, the victim is the wife of the offender, who in 50.3% of cases are women between 35 and 45 years old.

More than 50% of men experienced ongoing victimization (54.2%), having been in this situation for two to six years (30%), with 61% of the attacks occurring in the home.

According to APAV, men who are victims of domestic violence may be subject to behavioral control, physical and psychological aggression.

“Fear and shame are the main obstacle to seeking help for the first time. The fear of discredit and humiliation, which can often arise from family, friends and even the police and judicial authorities, inhibits the decision to report victimization,” says APAV.

During these three years, the number of domestic violence victims supported by APAV increased by 22.9%, amounting to a total of 31,117 victims, the majority of whom (81.1%) were women.

Between 2021 and 2023, APAV reported a total of 64,899 domestic violence crimes, with the most common types of violence being threats or coercion (19,335), physical violence (16,926), and insult or slander ( 16,142) and persecution (3,952).