1. Tackling cultures of silence regarding sexual violence against men in the Great Lakes region of Africa Dr Chris Dolan & Onen David Second South-South Institute Phnom Penh 26 th May 2015 Second South-South Institute Phnom Penh 26 th May 2015

2. Tackling cultures of silence regarding sexual violence against men & boys in the Great Lakes region of Africa Dr Chris Dolan & Onen David 2 nd South-South Institute Phnom Penh 26 th May 2015

3. “There is no such a thing as a rape culture … It is a global problem” Zainab Bangura - UNSRSGSV, 2013 “It is time that we come together to dispel the myth that there is such a thing as a rape culture, and to say this is not who we are or what we represent. We as a people must stand up to those who commit these acts and make it clear that they will not tarnish our cultures at home or abroad.” Zainab Hawa Bangura (United Nation Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence)

5. Outline of the presentation Overview of ‘culture of silence’ How silence affects survivors, their families & service providers Perpetrators of cultures of silence RLP’s experience in enabling survivors to break their silence – Working with survivor groups to break the silence created at community, national and international levels

6. RLP’s experience on tackling ‘silence’ Our work with individual refugees – Refugee status determination – other stories outside sv (sometimes rejected by REC) – Length of time taken between actual event and reporting of incidences Experience during SSI institute

7. Silence detains you in a prison of danger Living in silence is like living in trauma Silence is dangerous because it can kill Hiding the truth is equal to hiding healing Key messages during 1 st SS Institute on CoS - Myth Busting

8. Perpetration Institutional provocations Gaps in trainingLack of evidence base Data Systematic screening Police Prisons Legislators Medics Psychosocial Culture of Silence! State sponsored homophobia & Discriminative laws Legal cavities No reparation/access to justice for survivors Affects service provision for men & boys survivors Solutions Problems

9. What are the motivating Factors? Telling your testimony makes you feel better Its like somebody has a load in his heart and when he lets it out he feels comfortable We all want to stay alive and see our dreams come true Silence is normal, it is a defense mechanisms against a strange action that was committed Silence is an incubation period during which we ask ourselves questions and this is necessary Silence is like a boil. You have to cut it open or the boil ripens progressively & eventually bursts But how long does it take? Silence gives a lot of power to the perpetrators

10. Need to Know Check private and confidential environments for discussion, a good environment is an important capital Mind language & attributions Check family level of awareness of the issue and any possible risks associated Transfer of trust – Shared confidentiality is crucial Talking is a personal choice- survivors need proper counseling Disclosure also presents with additional challenges It’s a gradual process Foster social support for effective medical and psychological healing

11. Building walls against CoS - RLP’s model Work with families 1. Make it possible for individuals to come forward…

12. Building walls against CoS - RLP’s model Work with families Systematic screenings & In-depth testimonies 1. Make it possible for individuals to come forward…

13. Medical Psychosocial 2. Support Individual survivors 3. Encourage peer support 4. Support collective voice

14. 5. Backstopping collective voices of survivors

15. 6: Leveraging greater community recognition and support Community vide o screening session Community information session

16. 7: Peer support groups decides on next steps

18. 8: Peer Support Groups establish own identity internationally

19. Training of legal & medical Students Prison Police Medical, Legal & Psychosocial practitioners Training & mentoring key stakeholders

20. Testimony Julius Okwera & Alain Kabenga

23. Linking Local – National -International

28. “Nothing For Us Without Us” – It is important to work with survivors to tackle silence Ambition will be required to break the cultures of silence & save millions of men & boys Thank you! Courtesy of UNAIDS