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Sexual violence and abuse
Sexual violence occurs everywhere in society – in the home, in communities, in schools and work places, in public spheres and in institutions.
Sexual violence is commonly understood as one or several of the following actions: rape, incest, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, forced prostitution, female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual slavery, child abuse images, grooming for sexual purposes and trafficking for sexual exploitation. Also child marriage goes under this definition. Sexual violence is a form of gender-based violence which refers to violence that targets individuals or groups on the basis of their gender. It has been widely acknowledged that the majority of persons affected by gender-based violence are women and girls.
Sexual violence and gender-based violence has also become very common in conflicts and emergencies like natural disasters and their aftermath. It is perpetrated against girls and boys when there is no rule of law and is exacerbated by a culture of impunity. In some cases, sexual violence has been used as a tactic of war designed to humiliate and exterminate a whole population or ethnic group, force them to displace or simply to destroy their social fabric. Unfortunately, sexual violence and abuse is also quite common after the major crisis is finished. When in relief camps it is easy for people to abuse their power and ask for sexual favours in exchange for basic necessities.
The effects of sexual abuse are devastating. Survivors are vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies, psychological trauma, to the spread of HIV and AIDS, and other diseases. It can tear families and communities apart and increase maternal and child mortality rates. Girls and boys who report sexual violence are often not listened to or are even blamed for the violence they experience. Though the majority of children affected are girls, boys are also sexually abused and exploited. Girls and boys are more vulnerable to sexual violence due to gender discrimination, traditional cultural practices, perceptions of masculinity, and unequal power relations between adults and children.
Children face sexual exploitation by people who have an emotional or professional relationship with the child and who exploit their position of trust and power. Children are also sexually exploited by abusers or third parties with commercial or other exploitative interests.
In ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child, states have committed themselves to protecting all children under the age of 18 from all forms of sexual violence.
Save the Children’s work to end sexual violence includes provision of age and gender-sensitive response services for girls and boys, advocacy work addressing national laws and policies, promoting online safety and prevent child marriages and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM). Since gender norms perpetuates sexual and gender based violence it is important to challenge these, and to work separately with boys and men, alongside girls and women.
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RecommendedListen and speak out against sexual abuse of boys and girls: 10 essential learning points. Global presentation by the International Save the Children Alliance- UN Study on Violence
'Listen and speak out against sexual abuse of boys and girls: 10 essential learning points', is a Save the Children report on sexual abuse based on consultations carried out in Canada, Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, Romania, Spain, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ba
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RecommendedWALAW (No Way/What If)
"WALAW (No Way/What If)" is a short movie based on a true story that describes how within a loving family, the 8-year old daughter is exposed to child sexual abuse by a close family member without the awareness of the parents. During that period the paren
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Interim Technical Note: Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) during COVID-19 response
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health, social and economic crisis. With restrictions on travel ad movement, civil society and humanitarian organizations play a critical role in supporting authorities to respond. All people should remain safe fro
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Nowhere To Go: Disclosure and helpseeking behaviors for survivors of violence against women and girls in South Sudan
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a serious problem during times of armed conflict. Global estimates show that approximately 21 percent of women and girls in complex humanitarian crises have experienced sexual violence at least once during their
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Small Voices, Big Dreams 2019: Violence against children as explained by children
No child is completely immune to violence. Each year, nearly one billion children are afflicted by some type of physical, sexual, emotional violence or neglect, across different geographical, socioeconomic and cultural barriers. Listening to children and
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Stopp! Min Kropp! Second edition
Stopp! Min Kropp! ("Respect! My Body!") is a guidance document developed for adults to use when teaching children about their bodies, boundaries, and sexual abuse. Early on, children need to understand the value of their bodies and how to say or communica
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Reintegration of Children Born of Wartime Rape
Children born of wartime rape, and their mothers, are often stigmatised by their own communities, due to their associations with political, ethnic or religious enemies. Their identity and sense of belonging are contested, which creates dangers for their p
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The Impact of the Care Setting on Child Rehabilitation
In this video, Sreyna and Chenda, two practitioners from Hagar Cambodia, discuss their learning regarding the impact of the care setting on child rehabilitation. By comparing the differences observed in the rehabilitation process for children supported in
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Still In Danger: Women and girls face sexual violence in South Sudan despite peace deal
In recent years South Sudan has seen some of the highest levels of sexual violence in the world. Although most forms of political violence decreased when the peace agreement was signed in 2018, levels of conflict-related sexual violence persisted. Women a
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Caring for Boys Affected by Sexual Violence
This initial scoping study into sexual violence affecting boys sought to understand the existing knowledge base on the drivers of sexual violence affecting boys, and the existing intervention practice in this area. It is the first stage of a wider project
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Young Invisible Enslaved: 2018 report on children victims of trafficking and labour exploitation in Italy
Child trafficking is one of the great tragedies of our time; it is widespread all over the world. Italy, like the rest of Europe, is not immune to it. The most devastating violations are against children, girls and adolescents fleeing from countries burde
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Responding to Children and Adolescents Who Have Been Sexually Abused: WHO clinical guidelines
A study from 2011 estimates that 18% of girls and 8% of boys worldwide have experienced sexual abuse. This constitutes a major public health problem. Health providers, in many cases, are the first line of response for victims of sexual violence. It is cru