The reason for sexualized violence can be both the abuser's desire to satisfy his sexual needs at any cost, and his attempts to have power and control. over the victim.
In each case, it is a gross violation of a person's privacy through sexual acts and means. It takes various forms:
*rape
*coercion
*harassment
*impropriety
*creating degrading sexual images
*distribution of intimate images without consent
*voyeurism
*cyberbullying
*sexual exploitation or any other experience that a person identifies as sexual
Sexualized violence is one of the most widespread and under-documented human rights violations. Women and children are the most commonly affected, especially in situations of war, humanitarian crises, or displacement. According to the international NGO Save the Children, more than 20% children worldwide have been subjected to sexual violence. In some cases, particularly during armed conflicts, men, including adolescent boys, are also victims.
Why it's important to know how to support survivors
Sexualized violence leaves a deep mark on a person's life. Its consequences can manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, sleep and eating problems, loss of trust in people, social isolation, self-blame, and difficulty building close relationships.
Friends, relatives, colleagues, or professionals may be around a person who has experienced violence. And a lot depends on how they react.
The wrong reaction — denial of what was heard, accusations, excessive pressure with demands to "talk," or, conversely, complete silence — can deepen the trauma and leave a person alone with the pain.
That's why it's important to know how to speak and how to remain silent so as not to hurt even more. We explain this in detail in the infographic.
Resources that can help:
La Strada-Ukraine (https://la-strada.org.ua) is a public human rights organization that works to prevent gender-based violence, domestic violence, combat human trafficking, and ensure children's rights.
Resources for professionals:
Mental Health and Human Rights Info (https://www.hhri.org/) — contains free useful information materials and tools, including guides on providing psychological assistance to persons who have experienced sexual violence during conflicts (available in Ukrainian).
