Also Survivors: The Need for More Gender Inclusive Humanitarian Service Provision for Men, Boys, and SSOGI Survivors of SGBV

Towards addressing the suffering of all, and to upholding the humanitarian mandates of neutrality and impartiality, more gender inclusive services must be provided for all victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Current humanitarian thinking rightfully acknowledges women and girls as survivors of SGBV, but often overlooks male survivors and their vulnerabilities, as well as survivors who are of diverse sex, sexual orientations, and gender identities (SSOGI). All forms of SGBV against men and boys and SSOGI need to be better understood and addressed in a way that is both conflict and context sensitive, in cooperation with local service providers. Programming, guidelines, tools, and methodologies for SGBV must use inclusive language and consider different SGBV experiences. This view is indebted to and acknowledges decades of feminist research that highlights the reality of SGBV, and places emphasis on the need to ensure that raising the profile of men and boys and SSOGI individuals as survivors of SGBV does not detract from already underfunded SGBV programs for women and girls.

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