Survivor Advocate Says New Zealand Must Do More for Male Victims of Sexual Abuse

One of New Zealand’s leading survivor advocates says the country has made significant progress in supporting victims of childhood sexual abuse, but major gaps remain in access to services and the justice system. Christchurch-based advocate Ken Clearwater reflected on a journey that began more than three decades ago when he sought help after reaching a crisis point. Clearwater revealed that at age 38 he found himself contemplating suicide after years of anger, violence and emotional turmoil stemming from sexual abuse he experienced as a 12-year-old boy. Despite desperately seeking help, he was repeatedly turned away before eventually finding support through a psychologist who helped him connect his struggles to his childhood trauma. What followed was a lifelong commitment to supporting male survivors of sexual abuse, a field that was largely unrecognised at the time. Clearwater became involved in peer-support groups and later helped establish and lead initiatives supporting male survivors across New Zealand. He said one of the most powerful discoveries was the value of peer support, allowing survivors to connect with others who had experienced similar trauma. At the time, few services anywhere in the world were specifically designed for male survivors, and there was little research or professional training available. Clearwater’s work eventually connected him with advocates, researchers and clinicians from around the world. Through international conferences and collaborations, he helped raise awareness of the prevalence of abuse against boys and men, a topic often overlooked in discussions about sexual violence. He said New Zealand became an international leader in peer-support models for male survivors, attracting interest from overseas organisations seeking to understand how community-led support could complement clinical services. However, Clearwater believes significant challenges remain. He argues that many survivors still face barriers when seeking help and says the justice system often fails to adequately support victims through the reporting and prosecution process. Despite decades of advocacy, he says more work is needed to ensure survivors can access effective support and be treated with dignity throughout their recovery. Reflecting on his career, Clearwater said he is proud of how far New Zealand has come but remains determined to continue pushing for change. “We’ve come a bloody long way,” he said, “but we’ve still got a long way to go.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.