Shattering Silence: UNIDIR Highlights Neglect of Male Survivors in Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) | National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
The UNIDIR Fieldwork Note “Combating Conflict Related Sexual Violence Against Men and Boys: Challenges and Opportunities” investigates the persistent exclusion of men and boys from international policy debates and programming regarding Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). This marginalization exists despite documentation of such abuse in over 40 conflicts since the 1990s.
Barriers to Disclosure and “Feminization” The report highlights that deep-rooted social norms and stigma often deter male survivors from disclosing abuse. In patriarchal contexts, this violence is often used to “feminize” the male body—perpetrators aim to strip survivors of their perceived masculinity and social status by subjecting them to abuse stereotypically associated with women. This tactic creates severe psychological distress and social isolation, further silencing survivors and leading to significant under-reporting and a critical lack of reliable data.
Legal and Structural Failures Research identifies that legal frameworks in many nations fail to recognize male survivors. In some jurisdictions, disclosure is effectively criminalized due to anti-homosexuality laws, which blocks survivors’ access to justice and medical support and exposes them to further persecution.
Operational Gaps and Call to Action There is a critical lack of specialized training for practitioners, who may inadvertently perpetuate harm through victim-blaming or a failure to recognize symptoms of sexual torture. The findings call for a cultural shift to dismantle stereotypes that portray men solely as perpetrators, urging the immediate adoption of gender-sensitive data collection and trauma-informed support systems.
This report challenges the traditional gender-binary approach to conflict violence, emphasizing that true health equity and justice require recognizing the vulnerabilities of all genders. For India, a major contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, these findings underscore the necessity of integrating comprehensive, gender-inclusive CRSV training into pre-deployment protocols. This ensures peacekeepers can identify and support all survivors effectively in diverse conflict zones, adhering to the highest standards of human rights protection.
What is the concept of “feminization” in the context of CRSV against men?→ In patriarchal conflict settings, perpetrators often utilize sexual violence against men and boys as a strategic tool to strip them of their perceived masculinity and social status. By subjecting males to violence stereotypically associated with women, perpetrators aim to humiliate the survivor, diminish their legitimacy within the community, and reinforce rigid, unequal gender norms. This process can lead to severe psychological distress and social isolation for the victim, as they are seen as having “turned into women”.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can national legal frameworks be amended to decouple sexual violence laws from gender-binary definitions to ensure justice for all survivors regardless of sexual orientation?
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