蘑菇视频

I would like to commend this joint initiative of 蘑菇视频HCR, the Common Threads Project and the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands for shining the spotlight on the plight of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence on this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

鈥淭orture鈥� or 鈥渟exual torture鈥� is how many survivors of conflict-related sexual violence I met described their ordeal. These were the words of a father in South Sudan who had been forced to rape his daughter; women who were gang raped and mutilated by an armed group that raided their village in Eastern DRC; a young girl who was impregnated by the Commander of an armed group who had kept her as his sexual slave in Central African Republic or a man who had electric shocks applied to his testicles while in detention in Libya.

Sexual violence is a cruel tactic of war, terror, political repression and torture, due to its enduring social and psychological impact. It is designed not only to inflict bodily harm, but also to terrify, dominate, humiliate and degrade targeted individuals and groups.

Sexual violence in conflict is far from a discrete trauma. It affects every aspect of survivors鈥� lives and livelihoods. It impacts their physical health, mental well-being, social networks, economic resilience, and ability to participate in public life. Survivors have often said that the consequences of sexual violence are as traumatic as the assault itself.

In many war-torn corners of the world, I have seen the devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities. The trauma of wartime rape can be life-long, even echoing across generations, impacting the children of survivors, including children conceived as a result of rape. These enduring and inter-generational effects were evident during my visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 25 years after the war.

The mental health consequences for survivors are numerous. They can include non-pathological distress (such as fear, anger, self-blame, shame, sadness or guilt), anxiety disorders (including post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, low self-esteem, medically unexplained somatic complaints, substance abuse, as well as suicidal trends and self-harm. While mental health care by specialists is a must, the basic emotional and practical support of survivors鈥� family and community members is no less significant.

Since taking up office in 2017, mental health has been one of my highest priorities. During my field missions, I have noted a significant gap in the provision of mental health services. Many humanitarian settings have grossly insufficient capacity and resources to assist survivors with effective trauma-informed mental health interventions. The alarmingly high rate of PTSD in survivors of sexual violence is a strong indication that the current therapies for rape victims are inadequate and in need of improvement.

In Iraq, I met Yezidis girls who had been released after several years of captivity from Daesh who had not received any medical or psychosocial support whatsoever. They were like living ghosts sitting in front of me. I was informed that many were in a semi-comatose state at the time of their release. In Cox鈥檚 Bazar I observed how the psychosocial first-aid which was being provided to deeply traumatized Rohingya survivors of sexual violence, many of whom had been gang raped, was totally inadequate for the trauma they had undergone.

Mental health and psychosocial support interventions are essential components of the comprehensive package of care that aim to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental disorders among sexual violence survivors.

As the weapon of rape is often consciously used to shred the social fabric and unravel kinship ties with long-term impacts on communities, it is essential that psychological support targets both the individual as well as the community with interventions that enhance survivor well-being and improve the overall recovery environment, and combating stigma and social isolation.

Family members are also at considerable risk of psychological damage, particularly when they have been made to watch the violence and have been powerless to protect the victim, or when they have been forced to participate in the rape of their family members.

There is a clear need for services that address the practical needs of survivors 鈥� and their families 鈥� for a whole range of support, from mental health care to skills training.

Recovery from rape trauma is a deeply personal and highly individualized journey. As part of 鈥榩erson-focused interventions鈥�, beyond basic mental health care by primary health and community workers, specialized services must be provided to survivors who require additional support, including mental health care by specialists such as psychologists and psychiatrists.

One of the most important aspects in assisting the recovery process is empowering the survivors and putting control back into their hands. All actions must always be guided by a survivor-centred approach and the principles of confidentiality, safety and security, respect and non-discrimination.

Since survivors are not a homogeneous group, a rights-based survivor-centered intervention also needs to take into account that survivors represent diverse profiles in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity.

For example, there are reports of horrific sexual torture and rape of men and adolescent boys such as in Syria where threats and acts of sexual violence are commonly used as torture tactics in detention settings.

The mental health impact of such violence on men and boys is compounded by social norms and stereotypes about masculine invulnerability, leading to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation.鈥疉s such, it is imperative that humanitarian health actors are well equipped to provide tailor-made care for male survivors.

There is a clear need to develop more effective and holistic therapies in the future. Since the end of conflict does not mean the end of violence, sufficient rehabilitation and care should aim to provide survivors with all essential services that are needed to help them move on and rebuild their lives in a dignified way. From access to safe abortion to therapy, the world has an obligation to utilize holistic, gender-sensitive approaches of post-conflict care as a testimony of solidarity with the victims and condemnation of the perpetrators.

Physicians, therapists, law enforcement agencies, survivors and their families must work together to find the meaning of recovery from the perspective of the survivors and to understand what conditions will facilitate growth and recovery.

At the same time, it is critical to mobilize resources for the deployment of specialized staff. In this regard, there is a continued need to fund and support the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, which provides much needed grants to organizations on the front-lines providing mental health care support to victims of torture.

I am happy that the network 蘑菇视频 Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, which I chair, is seeking to promote innovative and culturally appropriate mental health initiatives that support healing both at the individual and the community level. Over the past ten years, this network has supported a number of member entities, namely WHO, 蘑菇视频FPA, 蘑菇视频ICEF and 蘑菇视频CHR, to review evidence and experiences on the psychosocial and mental health needs of CRSV survivors. These collaborative efforts have resulted in key knowledge products , and in the development of a course called 鈥淪elf-Help Plus鈥�. This course delivers evidence-based mental health support to large populations in hard-to-reach conflict- or disaster-affected areas.

In Somalia, 蘑菇视频 Action is currently supporting a project that creates safe-spaces, provides protection, supports socioeconomic resilience, and promotes the psychosocial well-being of women formerly associated with Al-Shabaab, including survivors of CRSV. One of the unique features of this project is the creation of women鈥檚 theatre, poetry, traditional dance and singing groups, relying on Somalia鈥檚 rich cultural heritage of oral history as a form of both memory and catharsis.

Ladies and gentlemen, the road to healing is long, and for each survivor the journey is unique, but it always begins with sharing their experience and feeling heard. That is the 鈥榗ommon thread鈥�.

I am therefore grateful to the Common Threads project for providing survivors with an opportunity to come together, find solace and solidarity, and begin their path of healing.

I would also like to thank all participants in this event for sharing their insights and experiences with healing severe psychological wounds and helping survivors of sexual violence to rebuild their lives.

Thank you.