It is normal for most people at some point to feel overwhelmed and challenged by situations in their life that they struggle.

For those who eventually reach out to someone in their life, they say it should never be an option to end life.  If you are struggling, start the conversation, as much as it feels like it, you are not alone in this world, dont silence your voice.

In 191 countries the highest suicide rate is found in boys and men, the youngest documented case is 6 years old/

Hopelessness, isolation, fear, emotional and mental trauma, these are what boys and men are forced to experience because their voices, their needs are constantly being silenced.

We have had a United Nation's Women (UN Women) since 2010, this is a good thing it means that girls and women have a representative organisation in every single country and within the central six committees of the United Nations. 

They have advocate whose job it is to take the needs of girls and women into decision making, governmental organisations.  They also get the opportunity to guide where money is spent in services.

The work they have done for the last 11 years has meant that every single piece of legislation in every country works to protect women and girls.

Boys and men do not have this voice, as a result of this they have no-one within governance who advocate specifically for them.  Which means that legislation, guidance, policy and government spending does not include supporting their needs when they are in the most vulnerable situations they will ever experience in their lives.

Examples of this are;

·       Domestic abuse - there are no services for men and their children, please don’t allow yourself to underestimate how many men experienced domestic abuse, the new way some government and charitable agencies are now collecting data means some are now saying 50% of those experiencing domestic abuse are boys and men.

·       Family court - we know this is a major area that affects men and their children, being ripped apart brings long term trauma effects for all.  What we know is that the surrounding services for example, police, domestic abuse services, children’s protective services, NGOs all having risk management processes in place that identify the needs of women and girls.  We know that assessments, support and other services are not available for men making this issue and major contributor in the rates of suicide for men.

Boy child human rights fact share - Did you know that in many countries boys as young as 8 are prevented from going into domestic abuse refuges with their mothers purely because they are male?

·       Rape and sexual abuse - Men and boys experience rape from male and female perpetrators.  Society refuses to accept that women of all ages frequently perpetrate sexual violence. There is a massive gap in understanding and services for boys and men.

Fact share - Did you know men and boys have to prove they are victims of domestic and sexual abuse? This is known to consitently retraumatize and victimise them into isolation.

·       Homelessness -  Most men and boys become homeless because of physical, mental, sexual or emotional abuse through childhood or as adults.  Boys and men have no where near the same understanding or protection from governance and services as girls and women.

Fact share - Did you know the global average of homelessness for men and boys is between 80 and 90%. 

The list of neglect is long in the needs for boys and men in the world and is unforgivable.  We have to provide them with an advocate, give them the same supportive voice in governance as women and girls.

Other fact shares:

Criminal court fact share - if you are a boy or man, you are more likely to be arrested, more likely to have a penal intervention and whether it is a community order or prison, you will serve on average a 30 to 50% longer sentance.

Education fact share - Through the UN Women and member states there has been some amazing support and billions invested into education for girls and women.   The issue is that factual evidence is saying that in under-developed and developing countries there are more boys and men out of education and yet no funding or focus placed on their needs.

Equality fact share - Did you know that legislation is mostly non-gendered but when the guidance, policies and procedures and government spending is created boys and men are not included?

Health fact share - Did you know that in many countries there are female preventitive screening for things like cancer but the same is not available for men?

Priority fact share - We need a UN men, boys and men need to be given an equal opportunity to have their needs understood and discussed with the United Nations Meber States, it is the only way that we can prevent boys, men and the women who love them experience the life changing trauma that suicide brings.

Thank you - Please sign, share and say why you believe fair play is important in governance.