4. WORKING WITH SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OF SURVIVORS Victims of torture are often targeted because of their identities such as their gender, race, ethnic group, religion, culture, age, political beliefs and sexual orientation. They are also tortured in ways that relate to their identity – for example, rape is used as a “corrective” measure for those who are gay or lesbians, religious symbols or icons are used as part of torture to mock the religious beliefs of those tortured due to their religion, women and men are raped as an act that is deeply shaming to them. These survivors require specific, tailored responses that address their related experiences of torture and appropriate rehabilitation responses given their identity. We continue to develop and capture our expertise in this area of work and will update this resource kit as more materials and information becomes available that we will share. 4.1 Working with women survivors Women and girls are frequently targeted for torture as part of a deliberate tactic of war where the form of harm (i.e. sexual torture, rape and forcible impregnation) is intended to inflict harm on the woman, her family and her community. Violence against women is commonplace in conflict, in its aftermath, and torture of women during times of conflict and in detention is part of a continuum of violence against women in many communities. Impunity for these crimes is common as women are doubly disadvantaged in seeking justice given that they often have little, if any, access to justice due to a lack of education, poverty and their marginalized position in society. Many of the member centres of IRCT have programs to respond to the specific needs of women victims of torture. These centres make a key contribution in their communities by offering programs that women survivors of torture need based on the medical, psychological, legal, social, economic and cultural issues that women victims face. The shame and stigma associated with rape and sexual torture can be powerful barriers to women disclosing their torture. This presents challenges to the care provider in adequately assessing women so that they can meaningfully access rehabilitation services suited to their particular needs. In many instances women live in the very communities where the perpetrators remain and face seemingly insurmountable challenges in relation to living with the legacy of their torture within family and community contexts, where they are not able to or cannot safely disclose their torture. It is very important for organisations offering rehabilitation services to women that they are attuned to these challenges and that they offer the range and depth of services needed by these women, whether that be through individual interventions or appropriately structured group work approaches. In a report by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture called “Justice Denied” (which you can find in the suggested reading, below) the case histories of 100 women survivors of torture from 24 countries were examined. The clinical records of these women were built over a period of time and the likelihood of disclosure was heightened given that these women were in the relative security of being outside their country of origin and being protected as refugees in the UK. The study found that 80% of these women had been raped and that many were raped and sexually assaulted numerous times and by multiple perpetrators. Other findings were that age was no barrier with young girls and elderly women being targeted. 30