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Sexual Violence
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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Save the Children Psychological First Aid Training Manual for Child Practitioners
The Psychological First Aid Training Manual for Child Practitioners (PFA) was developed by Save the Children Denmark for the Child Protection Initiative, to facilitate training in psychological first aid with a focus on children. It is aimed at developing
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Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender-based Violence in COVID-19 Quarantine Centres: Recommendations and best practice
All around the world, authorities are implementing measures to contain the spread and impact of COVID-19 in order to protect their citizens. Many governments are setting up quarantine centres managed by armed forces. Some countries are building emergency
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Child Sexual Violence: Enhancing access to justice
This policy brief is the first in a series produced by Uganda’s National Child Protection Working Group, with support from Save the Children. One in four girls and one in 10 boys in Uganda suffer sexual violence each year, yet most cases go unreported and
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What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis: Synthesis brief
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a serious threat to human rights and a pervasive issue affecting women and girls in humanitarian settings. Despite this, research shows that VAWG is not prioritized in acute emergency responses and peacebuilding
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Violence Against Women: Facts everyone should know
Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation of pandemic proportions that takes place in public and private spaces. This interactive platform by UN Women lets users explore the topics of Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence and Haras
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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
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Eyes that Fail to See: The sexual abuse of children in Spain and failures in the system
Between 10 and 20 percent of the population in Spain have suffered some kind of sexual abuse as a child. Faced with this unquestionable statistic, the most common questions are not: “How is this possible?” or “What has gone wrong?”, but rather: “Is that f
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Trainingshandbuch zur Psychologischen Ersten Hilfe für Kinder (PFA)
Published 2017, the German version of the Psychological First Aid Training Manual for Child Practitioners (PFA) is a condensed psychological first aid training based on the original two-day Psychological First Aid Training for Child Practitioners. It buil
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Emergency Within an Emergency: The growing epidemic of sexual exploitation and abuse of migrant children in Greece
Based on data collected in four sites in Greece- Lesvos, Chios, Athens, and Thessaloniki- this study analyzes the risk factors responsible for the exposure of migrant and refugee children to physical, psychological, and sexual violence and exploitation. T
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CPMS Video Series: Standard 9, Sexual violence
This video provides an overview of Standard 19: Sexual Violence of the CPMS (Child Protection Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Action). When using these videos, we strongly recommend you refer to the attached Facilitator’s Notes. For more languages, see
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Sexual Violence by Peacekeepers Against Children and Other Civilians: A practical guide for advocacy
CRIN, the Child Rights International Network, globally monitors children’s rights violations and advocates for change. Multiple reports of sexual violence by UN peacekeepers, most recently in CAR, have garnered international attention and outrage. The UN
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CPMS Webinar: Sexual violence against children with disabilities in humanitarian settings
Sexual violence against children with disabilities is an under-explored topic in the humanitarian sector. Sofia Hedjam- regional advisor for Handicap International's Great Lakes operations- presented the agency's latest research. She also shared promising