THEMATIC REPORT 2017 SEXUAL TORTURE often inflicted. These locations include police stations, military bases, pre-detention centres, prisons, during transportations from or to one of these places, victims’ homes, in public spaces and detention and concentration camps. “Many of our clients suffer from the consequences of torture experienced in war time. The worst cases happened in the prison camps from that time. Perpetrators were staff in these prison camps and members of (para)military and (para)police groups close to official forces.” RCT Croatia Who are the victims? The victims of sexual torture are not only women as is often presumed; men and children are also targeted. Perpetrators may choose their victims arbitrarily or specifically on the basis of their sex, ethnicity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, religion or other aspects of identity. Many rehabilitation centres report that women do constitute the main victim group of sexual torture and that this type of torture is often linked to gender inequality. However, the centres also state that while they know men are also targeted, in general these cases are underreported. As CCTI Mexico notes, the number of male victims may be underestimated because “women talk about it, men do not.” Often, men do not mention sexual abuse when revealing the different forms of torture they have suffered. According to the centres assisting these survivors, in these circumstances sexual torture against men and boys can have an even more destructive effect on the victims’ perception of masculinity and their ability to fulfil social roles. CTV Bosnia & Herzegovina, for instance, is confident that in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia , “perpetrators were even guided by this fact. They planned to torture men in this particular way exactly because of its devastating effect in our patriarchal societies.” In a context where victims may find it difficult to disclose and may only be able to do so over time, it is crucial that support be long term and benefit from skilled rehabilitation professionals. Clinical and psychosocial staff need to be attentive to any possible hint in the victim’s narration of their experience and to build a trusting relationship with their client so they can share their story. Inés CCTI Mexico Inés was 25 years old, when in February 2002 a dozen soldiers came to her house and violently attacked her. The assault was well planned. Nine men stood guard outside, while three entered, and one of them raped her. Before her ordeal, Inés was known as a community leader who advocated for women’s and indigenous rights, including issues concerning local infrastructure projects and greater access to medical services. “I was the one who organised the women, that is why I think they went after me, they wanted to silence me. But I will not stay quiet,” she says. Inés fought a long legal battle for prosecution of the perpetrators and in 2010, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that Mexico had violated international human rights laws by denying her and other indigenous women who experienced sexual torture access to justice. The Court ordered a series of reparations including legislative change and measures to prevent sexual violence against indigenous women. Yet in the spring of 2016, Inés reported that some recommendations had been only partially implemented and others not at all.1 page 10