Switzerland opening battered men shelters

AARAU, Switzerland, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- One shelter for battered men is already open in Switzerland and another is about to open, offering services to male victims of abuse, officials said.

VeV President Olivier Hunziker said his association is funding a new shelter near Aarau that allows battered men a place to stay, along with access to advice and assistance, Swissinfo reported Friday.

In addition to the Aarau-area shelter that opened Thursday, a second battered men shelter is to open Saturday in Erlenbach.

Hunziker said the two shelters are primarily focused on offering aid to men who have lost their families or homes.

"In fact, we do not distinguish between cases of difficult separations and cases of violence," said Hunziker, whose group urges responsible parenting. "All victims have the right to come."

Elsbeth Aeschlimann, who helps male victims of violence in Zurich, said men can feel intimidated addressing their victimization with others.

"In cases of domestic violence, a man who dares to speak about his problems is often misunderstood," Aeschlimann told Swissinfo. "Others tell him he should be able to 'deal with it' and he feels even more discouraged and belittled."