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Home: Survivors: For Males: It happened to us

'Let other survivors know that they are not alone and increase awareness of their rights.'

Survivors felt an important component in producing this booklet would be increased recognition that boys are abused too and that speaking out will help develop services both for male children and adults.

Many felt greater awareness would help remove the stigma often attached to male survivors. Knowing more about the impact of the abuse was also seen as a means of ensuring increased adult protection of children within the broader community.

Many of the contributors hoped that the booklet would be one of a number of strategies that would help put an end to sexual abuse of male children and teenagers.

'There really is not a lot available for men. This needs to be rectified because even a lot of stuff that is available is very inadequate.'

'The more this information gets out there, the more people will feel confident to speak up and to teach their kids to speak up if there is anything wrong.'

'Wider community awareness, adults actively protecting their children.'

'I get a nice feeling thinking when I leave here what I said and what I have done and what I have done in the past, will help to alleviate a lot of the pain and suffering of child abuse survivors. I would like to think that when I have done in some small way has contributed to people understanding.'

'It's just that it is very intimidating to see that it's all geared around the women. I know there is a good reason for it because they are the ones that have been pushing for it but the men have got lost along the way.'

'I hope that I can be looking through this booklet and say "this guy, it's exactly what I thought about". All of a sudden you are feeling I am not the only one, he's got the same things. I can see myself going through this book and going "oh yes I remember that and I remember that day when I felt like that" and it will be good to know that they are not just your thoughts, that they are someone else's as well.'

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 21 May 2010