Understanding Sexual Violence: What You Need to Know

Module 1 –

Understanding

Sexual Violence

Training Materials on the International Protocol    © Institute for

International Criminal Investigations 2015

INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL,

PART 1 MODULE 1

PAGES 15-16



Sexual violence is any 

Sexual violence is any 

act of a sexual nature

act of a sexual nature

committed 

committed 

without consent

without consent

, or any act that

, or any act that

violently targets a person’s 

violently targets a person’s 

sexual function

sexual function



Sexual violence is broader than just unwanted

Sexual violence is broader than just unwanted

sexual penetration – it can include any 

sexual penetration – it can include any 

sexual

sexual

contact

contact

, 

, 

forcible nudity

forcible nudity

, or other acts committed

, or other acts committed

with a 

with a 

sexual motive

sexual motive

What is sexual violence?

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015



Sexual violence can include physical violence which

Sexual violence can include physical violence which

targets the victim’s 

targets the victim’s 

sexual organs

sexual organs

 or 

 or 

sexual

sexual

function

function

, such as genital mutilation, forced

, such as genital mutilation, forced

abortion, or enforced sterilisation

abortion, or enforced sterilisation



Sexual violence does not need to involve physical

Sexual violence does not need to involve physical

force or violence – the background circumstances

force or violence – the background circumstances

may be enough to restrict the victim’s ability to give

may be enough to restrict the victim’s ability to give

genuine and voluntary consent

genuine and voluntary consent

What is sexual violence?

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

What is gender-based violence?

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015



Gender-based violence is any form of

Gender-based violence is any form of

    violence which 

    violence which 

targets men or women

targets men or women

   differently

   differently

 because of their 

 because of their 

role in

role in

   society

   society



Gender-based violence can include

Gender-based violence can include

    using 

    using 

different forms of violence

different forms of violence

    against men and women, or using

    against men and women, or using

    violence to 

    violence to 

punish

punish

 men or women for

 men or women for

    not conforming to their social roles

    not conforming to their social roles



Almost all forms of sexual violence are also forms of gender

Almost all forms of sexual violence are also forms of gender

    based violence, but 

    based violence, but 

not all gender-based violence is sexual

not all gender-based violence is sexual

What is gender-based violence?

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015



For example

For example

: a village is attacked.

: a village is attacked.

   All the men of fighting age are taken

   All the men of fighting age are taken

   away and killed. All the women and

   away and killed. All the women and

   any men who remain behind are

   any men who remain behind are

   sexually assaulted or raped.

   sexually assaulted or raped.



The abduction and killing of the men

The abduction and killing of the men

    is an example of 

    is an example of 

gender-based violence

gender-based violence

– 

– 

as men

as men

, they are seen as a potential

, they are seen as a potential

    threat and targeted for violence

    threat and targeted for violence



The sexual assault and rape of the women and remaining men

The sexual assault and rape of the women and remaining men

is an example of 

is an example of 

both sexual 

both sexual 

and

and

 gender-based violence

 gender-based violence

– 

– 

as women and men

as women and men

, they are targeted for sexualised violence

, they are targeted for sexualised violence

Who can be affected?

Who can be affected?

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

EVERYONE

EVERYONE



ANYONE can be a victim of sexual violence

ANYONE can be a victim of sexual violence

 – men and women,

 – men and women,

boys and girls, old people and young people. Men can be victims

boys and girls, old people and young people. Men can be victims

of sexual violence and women can be perpetrators

of sexual violence and women can be perpetrators



Do not assume that only beautiful young women will be targets

Do not assume that only beautiful young women will be targets

for sexual violence – it is about 

for sexual violence – it is about 

power, control and violence

power, control and violence

, not

, not

sexual attraction

sexual attraction



Sexual violence against men and boys is 

Sexual violence against men and boys is 

extremely under-

extremely under-

reported

reported

 and should be specifically recognised and pursued

 and should be specifically recognised and pursued

when investigating or documenting sexual violence

when investigating or documenting sexual violence

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

EVERYONE

EVERYONE



In many situations, women and children experience a 

In many situations, women and children experience a 

higher risk

higher risk

of sexual violence – it may also be used to disproportionately

of sexual violence – it may also be used to disproportionately

target specific 

target specific 

political, ethnic or religious groups

political, ethnic or religious groups



Remember, someone who is forced to carry out sexual violence

Remember, someone who is forced to carry out sexual violence

against another person is 

against another person is 

a victim themselves

a victim themselves



Not all victims of sexual violence will exhibit obvious physical

Not all victims of sexual violence will exhibit obvious physical

injuries or stereotypical emotional responses – they should

injuries or stereotypical emotional responses – they should

nevertheless be treated with 

nevertheless be treated with 

dignity, care and respect

dignity, care and respect

Who can be affected?

Who can be affected?

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Impact of sexual violence

Impact of sexual violence

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

Impact of sexual violence

Impact of sexual violence

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 - Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

shame, fear, distress, pain, terror

stigma, blame,

exclusion,

rejection,

breakdown of

communities

          access to justice/

medical

treatment,

impact on

sexual function,

loss of social status/ job/

authority in community

injuries, sexually transmitted

diseases, disability, sterility,

unwanted

pregnancy,

HIV/AIDS

impact on

relationship with

partner/ children,

family members

forced to carry

out/witness

sexual violence

trauma, flashbacks,

nightmares, depression

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015



Survivors of sexual violence have to deal with the physical,

Survivors of sexual violence have to deal with the physical,

emotional and/or psychological harm inflicted by the

emotional and/or psychological harm inflicted by the

perpetrator

perpetrator



They may then 

They may then 

continue to be harmed

continue to be harmed

 by:

 by:



If you are investigating or documenting sexual violence, you

If you are investigating or documenting sexual violence, you

have the opportunity to 

have the opportunity to 

empower survivors

empower survivors

 by helping

 by helping

them to 

them to 

pursue accountability

pursue accountability

Responding to sexual violence

Responding to sexual violence

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 – Interviewing

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 – Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

Responding to sexual violence

Responding to sexual violence

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 – Interviewing

Module 6 – Testimony and Module 7 – Interviewing

Patterns of sexual violence

Patterns of sexual violence

Module 2 – Sexual Violence as an International Crime

Module 2 – Sexual Violence as an International Crime

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

Red flags for sexual violence

Red flags for sexual violence

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 7 – Interviewing

Module 7 – Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

 © Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

Myths and stereotypes

Myths and stereotypes

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 7 - Interviewing

Module 7 - Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015



Myths and stereotypes about sexual violence are very common

Myths and stereotypes about sexual violence are very common

and very damaging – be conscious of how they can 

and very damaging – be conscious of how they can 

undermine or

undermine or

even prejudice

even prejudice

 your inquiries

 your inquiries



Every member of your team should be conscious of their own

Every member of your team should be conscious of their own

personal bias and preconceptions

personal bias and preconceptions

 and should make an effort to

 and should make an effort to

be 

be 

objective and open-minded

objective and open-minded



Stereotypes can negatively impact on your ability to 

Stereotypes can negatively impact on your ability to 

recognise

recognise

and identify

and identify

 potential survivors/witnesses/perpetrators, to assess

 potential survivors/witnesses/perpetrators, to assess

their 

their 

behaviour or credibility

behaviour or credibility

, or even to judge the 

, or even to judge the 

strength and

strength and

reliability

reliability

 of your own evidence/information

 of your own evidence/information

Myths and stereotypes

Myths and stereotypes

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 3 – Preliminary Considerations

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 5 – Identifying Survivors and Other Witnesses

Module 7 - Interviewing

Module 7 - Interviewing

Training Materials on the International Protocol

 © Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

Recognising sexual and

gender-based violence

Training Materials on the International Protocol

 © Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

E

E

XERCISE

XERCISE



Think about and discuss the following scenarios.

Think about and discuss the following scenarios.

Which of them would you describe as 

Which of them would you describe as 

sexual violence

sexual violence

?

?

If not, why not? Which would you describe as 

If not, why not? Which would you describe as 

gender-

gender-

based violence

based violence

?

?



As a follow-up exercise, discuss whether the scenarios

As a follow-up exercise, discuss whether the scenarios

would constitute a 

would constitute a 

crime

crime

 under the law that you use

 under the law that you use

Recognising sexual and gender-

based violence

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015

Recognising sexual and gender-

based violence

Training Materials on the International Protocol

© Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2015