Feminist Approach
WRC’s work on sexual violence against men and boys strives to prioritize accountability to women and girls. We do this by:
- exploring how sexual violence against men and boys impacts the lives of women and girls;
- exploring how sexual violence against men and boys intersects with violence against women and girls;
- advocating for services for and attention to survivors of all genders;
- dispelling the myth that services and treatment are available for sexual violence survivors who identify as women and girls, but not for men and boys—services and treatment are typically limited for all survivors of all genders; and
- including experts on violence against women and girls on our Global Advisory Committee.
Sexual Violence Project
In 2018, WRC launched its Sexual Violence Project, a three-year initiative exploring the effects of sexual violence against people who have identified as male or were designated as male at birth, including cisgender heterosexual men and boys, gay and bisexual men, and transgender women and transgender men. The impact of sexual violence against men and boys on women and girls is being examined. The project involves research in three refugee settings: the Rohingya refugee community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh; refugees and migrants traveling the Central Mediterranean route through Libya to Italy; and refugees in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya. We are also piloting community-based projects to facilitate service uptake, coordinating an inter-agency working group, and developing field-friendly tools and guidance.
Research
WRC has conducted qualitative, exploratory studies to better understand the nature, characteristics, and impacts of sexual violence against displaced men and boys and to help humanitarian agencies improve protection mechanisms and strengthen services for survivors. Intersections with violence against women and girls were also explored.
It’s Happening to Our Men as Well: Sexual Violence against Rohingya Men and Boys
In July 2018, WRC traveled to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to explore sexual violence perpetrated against Rohingya men and boys in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
In October 2018, WRC undertook fieldwork in Rome and Sicily to explore sexual violence perpetrated against refugee and migrant men and boys traveling the central Mediterranean route to Italy.
In April and May 2019, WRC traveled to Kenya to explore sexual violence perpetrated against Congolese, Somali, and South Sudanese refugee men and boys, including those with diverse sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expressions, and trans women in their home countries, during flight, and in Nairobi and Mombasa.
10 Insights from Discussions with Boys and Young Men Traveling to Italy on Sexual Violence
This booklet was developed in collaboration with UNICEF.
The Women’s Refugee Commission undertook exploratory, qualitative research examining the characteristics and impacts of sexual violence against men and boys.
Ethics and Accountability in Researching Sexual Violence against Men and Boys
This article appeared in Forced Migration Review.
This article appeared in Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
This article appeared in Conflict and Health.
This article appeared in the Journal of Humanitarian Affairs.
Tools and Guidance
The Women’s Refugee Commission developed this Guidance Note in response to unmet needs found among men, boy, and LGBTIQ+ survivors of sexual violence in three refugee settings.
Supporting Survivors of Violence: The Role of Linguistic and Cultural Mediators – With a Focus on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence against Men and Boys. A Training Curriculum
Women’s Refugee Commission and UNICEF developed this training curriculum, which aims to equip linguistic and cultural mediators with the foundational knowledge they need to respond effectively to and support survivors of gender-based violence and sexual violence, including male survivors.
Supporting Young Male Refugees and Migrants Who are Survivors or at Risk of Sexual Violence: A Field Guide for Frontline Workers in Europe
This field guide, prepared by UNICEF and WRC’s Sexual Violence Project, provides tips on how to engage with and support young male refugees and migrants in Europe who are survivors of or at risk of sexual violence.
Pilots
Addressing Sexual Violence against Men, Boys, and LGBTIQ+ Refugees: Learnings from Pilot Projects in Bangladesh, Italy/Bulgaria, and Kenya
This report presents a synthesis of the key learnings from the pilots and outlines top recommendations. WRC undertook exploratory qualitative research on sexual violence against men and boys (including those with diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identity/expression) in three refugee settings: Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar), Italy, and urban Kenya.
