Sexual torture of men in wartime Croatia was common
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《英国医生杂志》
Sexual torture of men in wartime Croatia was regular and substantial. Evidence of rape and other forced sexual acts, castration, genital beatings, and electric shock is documented in new research funded by M閐ecins Sans Fronti鑢es.
The report says that sexual torture of men in wars occurs regularly, but that many victims fail to report it. Gender biased health professionals may also fail to recognise what is happening.
The report, published in Reproductive Health Matters (2004;12:68-77), says that until now attention has focused more on the sexual torture of women than of men, partly owing to gender stereotyping.
"Although studies suggest that sexual torture of men is not uncommon, data are almost non-existent. A major factor in the failure to identify male victims of sexual torture has been the slowness of institutions to recognise that male victims exist," say the authors of the report.
The study presents data on male sexual torture victims in Croatia, based on the medical records of three organizations providing medical and psychosocial care to victims of torture, and on in-depth interviews with doctors and therapists working with victims.
The authors, from the Netherlands School of Public and Occupational Health and the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, and the Medical Committee Netherlands Vietnam, say that the data support the conclusion that sexual torture of men was a regular, unexceptional component of violence in wartime Croatia.
"The occurrence of sexual torture of men during wartime and in conflict situations remains something of an open secret, although it happens regularly, and often takes place in public," says the report.
But few men admit to having been sexually tortured or seek help, says the report, and professionals may fail to recognise cases. Survivors may fail to report sexual torture because they are ashamed.
"One of the striking points to emerge from the study is how silent male survivors of sexual torture have remained about their experiences. The silence that envelopes the sexual torture of men in the aftermath of the war in Croatia stands in strange contrast to the public nature of the crimes themselves," say the authors.
Those who do report sexual torture usually turn first not to the legal system, they say, but to healthcare providers because it is a less confrontational, more confidential avenue.
But the report says that some health professionals find it difficult to discuss sexual torture. One therapist told the researchers that she had previously not believed that men could be raped.
"Lack of recognition may discourage male survivors from reporting sexual torture even more than women, and professionals may fail to recognise cases," it says.
"Health professionals, the legal system and human rights advocates have proven to be somewhat gender-biased about sexual torture and have only recently begun to acknowledge that men as well as women are potential victims. It is difficult enough for survivors of sexual torture to come forward; men should not have to face the additional problem of disbelief that it could even happen to them at all.
"The challenge is to turn this open secret into a recognized fact, so that it can be deterred and prosecuted alongside the sexual torture of women."(Abergavenny Roger Dobson)
The report says that sexual torture of men in wars occurs regularly, but that many victims fail to report it. Gender biased health professionals may also fail to recognise what is happening.
The report, published in Reproductive Health Matters (2004;12:68-77), says that until now attention has focused more on the sexual torture of women than of men, partly owing to gender stereotyping.
"Although studies suggest that sexual torture of men is not uncommon, data are almost non-existent. A major factor in the failure to identify male victims of sexual torture has been the slowness of institutions to recognise that male victims exist," say the authors of the report.
The study presents data on male sexual torture victims in Croatia, based on the medical records of three organizations providing medical and psychosocial care to victims of torture, and on in-depth interviews with doctors and therapists working with victims.
The authors, from the Netherlands School of Public and Occupational Health and the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, and the Medical Committee Netherlands Vietnam, say that the data support the conclusion that sexual torture of men was a regular, unexceptional component of violence in wartime Croatia.
"The occurrence of sexual torture of men during wartime and in conflict situations remains something of an open secret, although it happens regularly, and often takes place in public," says the report.
But few men admit to having been sexually tortured or seek help, says the report, and professionals may fail to recognise cases. Survivors may fail to report sexual torture because they are ashamed.
"One of the striking points to emerge from the study is how silent male survivors of sexual torture have remained about their experiences. The silence that envelopes the sexual torture of men in the aftermath of the war in Croatia stands in strange contrast to the public nature of the crimes themselves," say the authors.
Those who do report sexual torture usually turn first not to the legal system, they say, but to healthcare providers because it is a less confrontational, more confidential avenue.
But the report says that some health professionals find it difficult to discuss sexual torture. One therapist told the researchers that she had previously not believed that men could be raped.
"Lack of recognition may discourage male survivors from reporting sexual torture even more than women, and professionals may fail to recognise cases," it says.
"Health professionals, the legal system and human rights advocates have proven to be somewhat gender-biased about sexual torture and have only recently begun to acknowledge that men as well as women are potential victims. It is difficult enough for survivors of sexual torture to come forward; men should not have to face the additional problem of disbelief that it could even happen to them at all.
"The challenge is to turn this open secret into a recognized fact, so that it can be deterred and prosecuted alongside the sexual torture of women."(Abergavenny Roger Dobson)