HIDDEN SUFFERING DUE TO SGBV

By Rosette Nandutu,

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is widespread in all parts of the world today. Such violence overwhelmingly affects women and girls, though men and boys experience abuse too.

Sexual violence against men is one of the least told aspects in society. Yet men and boys are victims too of abuse that is frequently more effective at destroying lives and tearing communities. It can take the form of anal and oral rape, genital torture, sexual slavery and the forced rape of others. It is so taboo that few survivors have the courage to tell their story. Besides feeling ashamed and afraid of being ostracised, many victims dare not challenge powerful myths about male rape in their cultures, experts say. A common belief is that a man who is raped becomes a woman.

SGBV is rooted in gender inequality, discrimination and power imbalances. It often happens in the home or other familiar settings and thus may be hidden from view. It may be misunderstood or even condoned due to gender norms.

It is also important to recognise that Sexaul and gender-based violence may be normalised and reproduced due to structural inequalities, such as societal norms, attitudes and stereotypes around gender generally and violence against women specifically. Therefore it is important to acknowledge structural or institutional violence, which can be defined  as the subordination of women in economic, social and political life, when attempting to explain the prevalence of violence within our societies.

SGBV victims in Uganda specifically Mbale City show low incidences of reportage and help-seeking; only 5% of women, girls and men who have been victims of violence sought help, mainly sought from victim’s own families. Reasons for this include prevalent cultural norms that discourage reporting SGBV, poor awareness of how to report the crimes and processes involved, and shortcomings in the justice framework.

Therefor by better understanding the specific experiences of male victims of violence, we can take action in our communities to stop violence before it starts.