Understanding why male survivors of domestic violence do not report their experiences to formal violence prevention systems. A case study of Nansana police station, Wakiso district.

Abstract

The findings presented in this dissertation were a result of the study which was carried out in Nansana Municipality to understand why male survivors of domestic violence do not report their experiences to formal violence prevention systems. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and the respondents who participated in the study were police officers, male survivors of domestic violence and lay men and women. The study employed qualitative techniques of data collection and data was analyzed using thematic and content data analysis methods. The study revealed that the experiences male survivors of domestic violence go through are as bad as those that women go through. Survivors are denied food, locked outside their homes, denied sex and some are even battered. Despite all the experiences male survivors of domestic violence go through, they find it difficult to report such cases because of reasons such as social stigma, having concern for the children and cultural beliefs. The study recommends that efforts to encourage male reporting of violence against them should be widely intensified by all concerned parties, the government should enact laws against Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) specifically focusing on men. Male survivors of domestic violence should come out of the ‘closet’ and report violence meted on them to relevant authorities instead of suffering silently. Support centers for male survivors of domestic violence should be set up to give care and support to them.