THEMATIC REPORT 2017 SEXUAL TORTURE Key Action 5: Improve access to social and economic assistance Key action 5 Improve access to social and economic assistance Social and economic assistance is a critical part of sexual torture rehabilitation as the re-integration into local communities and the labour market is particularly difficult for victims of sexual torture who face strong social stigmatisation. Furthermore, physical injuries inflicted during sexual torture or severe psychological problems may prevent survivors from being able to work and earn an income. Challenges: • As a result of their physical injuries, psychological disorders or stigmatization survivors may not be able to work or be rejected by their families. This can lead to economic hardship. CTV Bosnia & Herzegovina supports victims through psychotherapy and medical aid, but also provides valuable help in rebuilding a structured daily routine and in finding an adequate job. “It is crucial for them to be included in work outside of their homes, to be employed. This way, their self-esteem will be increased, they will feel independent and perceive themselves as healthy. In all our societies if you work it means that you are a healthy person. Therefore, also within their family and their community they will be seen as a person with – yes – a terrible history in the past, but a wellrecovered and healthy one now, who is taking their life into their own hands and who should be respected despite the fact that he or she experienced very humiliating events.” Similarly, KHIAM Lebanon works “on helping these victims to reintegrate into their social life and build self-confidence.” • Therefore, survivors find it difficult to reintegrate into society. Recommendations: • Rehabilitation centres, government services and NGOs can offer social support, teach vocational skills, help beneficiaries to find a job and offer financial assistance recognizing their specific vulnerability. • Families and communities should be sensitised to the difficult social situation of survivors of sexual torture and encouraged to help them to re-integrate into society. In addition to support from rehabilitation centres, other NGOs and civil society, there may also be free local or national government grants or training schemes, which help survivors gain vocational skills. In some countries, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, for instance, a monthly allowance is given to victims of rape in the war. Key Action 6: Encourage reporting of sexual torture to the police, improve access to legal assistance and provide support throughout the judicial process Stigma and fear of reprisals or of re-traumatisation prevent many survivors from reporting crimes of sexual torture to the police. As a result, perpetrators are not brought to justice and the rights of victims remain unrecognised. The police and justice system may also prove unhelpful or hostile, dissuading survivors from testifying and resulting in very few convictions whilst impunity further perpetuates the reluctance to report crimes and reinforces collective silence. • Stigmatisation should be addressed through awareness-raising campaigns. “The practice of rape and other forms of sexual torture remains endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is partly due to the pervasive situation of impunity for members of the security services, soldiers of the Congolese army and members of other armed groups who have systematically committed human rights violations and sexual torture in the context of the conflict. Moreover, the justice system has a series of structural weaknesses. Numerous obstacles, including lack of resources and corruption, have severely limited the impact of all measures taken.” page 30 Save Congo DRC