Breaking the Silence: Protection and Recognition of Male Survivors of CRSV
“They killed my father. Three men raped me, and they said: 'You are a man, how are you going to say you were raped?'“ This testimony encapsulates one of the many experiences of men living in conflict. Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls, or boys that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict.
This atrocity is widely recognized as a major issue affecting women and girls in war, but this narrow perspective has led to male survivors being overlooked and unsupported. In 2020, 2,524 cases were documented globally yet 58 (2%) involving men and boys. While 58 cases are alarming, this number barely scratches the surface of the true scale of this issue. Sexual violence against men in conflict isn’t unusual, yet underreporting is a prevalent issue stemming from stigma, fear of emasculation, and legal barriers. Most survivors struggle with how sexual violence against men challenges hegemonic masculinity. One Congolese survivor stated: “I’m laughed at... The people in my village say: ‘You’re no longer a man. Those men in the bush made you their wife.’” This fear of being perceived as “weak” or “feminine” leads to survivors not reporting or disclosing their experiences.
Legal frameworks create another barrier for male survivors. Internationally, many laws define rape in gendered terms, perpetuating the idea that women are the only victims, and fails to recognize forms of violence that affect men, such as forced nudity. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, before 2006, rape was defined as non-consensual intercourse between a man and a woman, excluding male survivors from legal protection. Furthermore, in some countries, male survivors face criminalization as some legislation merges sexual violence and same-sex relations under the same category, which deters them from seeking justice. For instance, Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014 has discouraged male survivors from seeking justice, as they are scared of being labeled as criminals. As a result, male victims are often denied access to critical resources like medical care, hindering their healing process.
Addressing male-targetted CRSV requires structural changes and commitments from national governments, international organizations, and civil society. Basic practices to improve the way male CRSV is handled include:
Expanding legal definitions of sexual violence to incorporate male survivors is a vital step for handling CRSV. National governments must have legislation that includes more pluralistic definitions to violence and implement survivor-centered measures that protects male survivors rather than criminalizing them.
International and human rights organizations, like the UN, should include male-inclusive approaches into peacekeeping missions where personnel are trained to respond to male-targetted CRSV without perpetuating gender stereotypes.
Victim services must be widely available for male survivors, removing legal, structural, and societal barriers preventing them from receiving care.
Trauma-informed care services must be implemented for those survivors that governments or organizations have failed to help.
Survivor-led advocacy must be encouraged, challenging stigma and ensuring that the experiences of male survivors are at the forefront of policy changes and humanitarian responses to CRSV.
CRSV does not only affect women, but also men and people of other gender identities. No men should be silent due to legal barriers, structural barriers or societal stigma. Governments and organizations should include a male-inclusive policy that ensures that all survivors–regardless of their gender identity-receive justice and protection.