1. Participants are able to explain the nature of sexual violence in acute and protracted crises

1.1. Participants are able to describe different types of sexual violence and how these are part of violence overall, and why these may be widespread but remain invisible.

• Definition of sexual violence

• Description gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual violence; forms of these two

• Reasons for invisibility -> implications for knowing prevalence data and humanitarian priorities

• Prevalent in all societies; Increase during crisis situations

• Legal aspects (briefly)

1.2. Participants are able to identify different vulnerable groups (potential victims) and potential perpetrators of sexual violence

• Circumstances that increase the risks, e.g.

  • Changes in the social fabric due to the crisis situation, armed conflict, displacement, people deprived of freedom, gender inequality, homophobia

• Characteristic of vulnerable groups, e.g.

  • Boys and girls

  • Women and men outside the social protection mechanisms and/or vulnerable due to lack of income,

  • Belonging to a certain group (e.g. ethnic minority, people deprived of freedom)

• Characteristics perpetrators; wide variety, e.g.

• Intimate partners

• Sexual exploitation abuse by service providers (transactional sex); perpetrators may include humanitarian personnel

• Armed groups, etc.

1.3. Participants are able to discuss main determinants of sexual violence in crisis situations

• Changes in the social fabric as result of the crisis

  • Lack of law and order

  • Increased stress

  • Decreased economic opportunity

  • Change in gender roles

• In situations of armed conflict the following division is made

  • Opportunistic determinants

  • Practice of the entity (wide spread practice that is not sanctioned)

  • Strategic determinants (war tactic)

2. Participants are able to explain the consequences of sexual violence, the needs of victims of SV and the challenges of addressing these needs

2.1 Participants are able to explain different consequences of sexual violence at the level of an individual, family and community

• Physical, psychological and socio-economic consequences at the three levels

2.2 Participants are able to explain the primary needs of victims of sexual violence

• Primary needs: Care, safety and survival

  • In particular: access to timely & appropriate health care (72h), including psychological support (72h = medical emergency)

  • Need to ensure:

    • Confidentiality when responding to the needs

    • Security of victims/survivors from further violations and reprisals

2.3 Participants are able to explain the challenges in responding to the needs of victims of sexual violence and barriers victims may face to access services

• Non-visibility of sexual violence

• Reasons that person does not access care

  • Non-availability of care

  • Unawareness of victims/survivors

  • Fear of retaliation, feelings of shame and guilt, taboo

  • Risks of safety

  • Logistical obstacles

3. Participants are able to discuss how they can contribute to a comprehensive approach to address sexual violence in acute and protracted crises

3.1. Participants are able to explain principles of good practice and appropriate interventions for addressing primary needs of survivors of sexual violence

• Appropriate interventions

  • Post-exposure medical care (wound care and prevention of tetanus; presumptive STI treatment; post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), emergency contraception, prevention hepatitis B, prevention of human papilloma virus (HPV),

  • Mental health and psychosocial support

  • Collection of forensic evidence

  • Referrals; linking victims/survivors with other services

• Principles:

  • Do no harm, confidentiality, non-judgmental

  • Holistic response (taking responsibility to take into account the multiple need; multi-layered)

3.2. Participants are able to identify interventions that enhance prevention and risk reduction of sexual violence

• Risk reduction, e.g.

  • Lighting; firewood/energy sources; distance water points /water patrols; secure sanitation, bathing and washing places; including economically vulnerable groups in assistance programmes

• Community awareness, consultation with the community

• Dialogue with authorities (community level, detaining authorities, armed forces)

• Code of conduct for humanitarian workers in place and enforced

3.3. Participants are able to explain how they can integrate addressing sexual violence into their work to ensure that it constitutes a part of a comprehensive approach

Participants reflect individually three minutes on how they can integrate this in their work -> discussion in plenary