During a UN-sponsored seminar on sexual violence against men and boys in conflict Margriet Veenma of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees discussed the gaps that exist in programs and services for male survivors of sexual violence in conflict.

1. New York 26 July 2013
Key considerations for
inclusive SGBV
programming

2. Session
 Presentation programming gaps
 Survivor’s experiences – gaps and interventions
 Way forward – group work

3. Understanding the needs of men and boys
 Medical treatment
 Mental health
 Social health
 Legal protection
 Livelihood support

4. Train all staff in inclusive understanding of
SGBV
 Examine assumptions and stereotypes of staff
 Develop strategic partnerships with organization
that have relevant expertise
 Provide training on protection issues, essential
services and counseling

5. Community awareness
Conduct information sessions with community
groups – potential victims include men and boys
Inform women, girls, men and boys about the
available services

6. Work with individuals
 Be alert to indicators for identification
 Pay attention to signs and respond to them
 Provide information about available services, confidentially and
sensitively
 Let the survivor choose the interviewer: man/woman (and
interpreter)
 Respect the survivor’s narrative and do not try to redefine
his experience
 Extend individual counseling to include support persons
such as spouses and other family members

7. Work with individuals
 Acknowledge the legitimacy of feelings of anger
 Clarify for survivors that coerced sexual acts are not
necessarily linked to sexual orientation

8. Provide peer survivor support
Provide a safe space in which groups can form
and meet
Encourage self-help activities