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Madrid to open first support centre for male victims of sexual violence
New €500,000 a year facility will offer dedicated care to men assaulted by other men
A new centre offering support to adult male survivors of sexual assault will open in Madrid this October. It will be the first facility of its kind in Spain. The initiative, announced by Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, involves an annual investment of €500,000 from the regional government.The centre is aimed at men who have experienced sexual violence committed by other men. It follows growing awareness of the need for specific services. According to the regional government, health services in Madrid currently see around 100 adult men each year who report being victims of sexual violence, often in the context of so-called chemsex. This is a practice that involves the use of drugs to enhance or prolong sexual encounters, often in group settings, and has been linked to a higher risk of sexual assault. Many victims in these cases feel unable to come forward and seek help.
When Ayuso first announced the project in the regional assembly last September, she said, “Unfortunately, a considerable number of male minors are also being detected who are victims of sexual violence in childhood. And adult men who suffer it, for example in the context of practices such as chemsex, do not dare to report it.”
The centre will provide comprehensive support through a multidisciplinary team of professionals offering social, psychological, legal and educational assistance, as well as sexology services. It will also be open to men working in prostitution who have been subjected to sexual violence and will provide care tailored to the needs of each individual.
The Community of Madrid already operates two specialist services for children and teenagers who have been sexually abused. However, officials say many of those who receive support while underage require ongoing care once they reach adulthood. “Many of these boys need continued treatment after the age of 18, and that is why we are going to open a centre for adult men,” explained the Ministry of Family, Youth and Social Affairs.
Ayuso´s comments have attracted some criticism, particularly when she stated, “there is also violence against men” and suggested that “they suffer even more attacks than we do”. The latest national data shows that women and girls made up 86 percent of recorded sexual violence victims in Spain in 2023.
Nonetheless, the opening of the new centre has been welcomed by support workers, with the government emphasising that the resource is designed to fill an urgent and growing gap in care, for an often-overlooked group.
Image: Romain Taupiac/ Unsplash
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