Male-Directed Sexual Violence: Increasing Understanding for a Better Response
Sexual violence in conflict disproportionately affects women and girls, and it has long been called history's oldest and least condemned crime. Rape as a weapon of war has been used in dozens of conflicts in the last century, and unfortunately this offence knows no geographic or gender boundaries. In fact, the 2013 annual SecretaryGeneral's report on sexual violence in conflict identified wartime rape of men and boys as an increasing problem of concern during conflict. However, very little is known about this crime when it is committed against men and boys and few services currently exist to address the legal, medical, economic and psychosocial needs of male survivors. This two day workshop aims to bring together practitioners from a wide range of disciplines to discuss the scope of this problem and what can be done to prevent and respond to sexual assault against men and boys in the context of conflict.