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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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Violencia sexual contra los niños y las niñas. Abuso y explotación sexual infantil.Guía de material básico para la formación de profesionales
This guide, developed by Save the Children Spain, has been produced with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services & Equity, and is part of Save the Children's work in protecting children against all forms of child sexual abuse and ex
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Nadie en quien confiar: Los niños y el conflicto armado en Colombia
Colombia’s civilians have been pulled into a decades-long civil war among the government’s forces, paramilitary groups and their successors, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the People’s Liberation Army (ELN). During the conflict, gi
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Violence against Children in Kenya: Findings from a 2010 National Survey. Summary Report on the Prevalence of Sexual, Physical and Emotional Violence, Context of Sexual Violence, and Health and Behavioral Consequences of Violence Experienced in Childhood
The 2010 Kenya Violence Against Children Survey (KVACS) was funded by UNICEF and carried out in collaboration with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, crucial stakeholders and partners from across t
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Struggling to Survive- Children Living Alone on the Streets of Tanzania and Kenya
A new study by Railway Children finds a 'silent war' is being waged in Tanzania and Kenya against children forced on to the streets. The children who took part in the study have been exposed to a relentless ordeal of extreme physical and sexual violence,
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Toolkit on Children and Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights: Information Guide for the Facilitator- Module 2 [Arabic]
'Protecting Adolescents from Gender Based Violence through the Promotion of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights’ is a three-year project launched by Save the Children aimed to raise awareness and enhance protection of children and adolescents (10-
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Toolkit on “Children and Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights": Guide for Adolescents- Module 2 [Arabic]
'Protecting Adolescents from Gender Based Violence through the Promotion of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights’ is a three-year project launched by Save the Children aimed to raise awareness and enhance protection of children and adolescents (10-
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Toolkit on "Children and Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights": User Guide- Module 2 [Arabic]
'Protecting Adolescents from Gender Based Violence through the Promotion of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights’ is a three-year project launched by Save the Children aimed to raise awareness and enhance protection of children and adolescents (10-
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Hidden Violence: Preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of adolescent boys: Case Studies and Directions for Action
This document provides a literature review on the issue of sexual exploitation of adolescent boys. National-level surveys have shown that boys experience sexual violence and sexual exploitation at rates lower than girls – but at rates that deserve greater
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Toolkit on “Children and Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights”: Activities Guide for service providers
'Protecting Adolescents from Gender Based Violence through the Promotion of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights’ is a three-year project launched by Save the Children aimed to raise awareness and enhance protection of children and adolescents (10-
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OCHA Gender Equality Toolkit: Tools to help OCHA address gender equality
The purpose of the policy is to strengthen the way OCHA responds to humanitarian crises by ensuring awareness of the different needs, capacities and voices of all affected population groups. These groups include women, girls, boys and men of all ages, peo
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Learn Without Fear. Third Progress Report
The report highlights some of the achievements of Plan’s global Learn Without Fear campaign to end violence in school, since its launch in October 2008. The campaign, focusing on the need to end sexual violence, bullying and corporal punishment, has met w
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La justicia española frente al abuso sexual infantil en el entorno familiar. Un análisis de casos a la luz de los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos
Save the Children warns about serious deficiencies in the Spanish judicial system- assessed against the standards dictated by international human rights law- and its ineffective responses to child sexual abuse cases, especially when very young children ar