The study, entitled “ Zimbabwe’s Macho Men- Politically Motivated Sexualised Violence against Men by Men”, done in collaboration with PADARE – Men‟s Forum on Gender 11 and the Tree of Life 12 revealed that men are not at liberty to speak out about their sexual violence experiences making it difficult to accurately assess its scope and make possible interventions.
Political violence has been a spectre that has haunted the political landscape in Zimbabwe for decades and the violence takes many forms including torture, beatings, arson and murder.
Zimbabwe will in the two weeks hold the country’s watershed elections and cases of politically motivated violence and intimidation are reportedly on the increase.
The report by RAU states that while various methods of inflicting harm on political opponents are well understood, only a few are documented.
“It is acknowledged but not well documented that men suffer from sexual violence perpetrated by other men during conflict: either armed conflict of low level political conflict such as the Zimbabwean context.
““The immense stigma associated with rape especially the shame, stigma and deep sense of humiliation that male victims of sexual assault face silence them,” read the report.
President Robert Mugabe has openly spoken out against homosexuals. Speaking at the launch of the party’s election campaign manifesto at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields last month, Mugabe challenged homosexuals to bear children or face a jail term.
He said: “If I am going to lock you up in a house for say a year, I want you to conceive a child. If you cannot, I will send you to jail.”
The RAU report stated that male victims of sexualised political violence prefer to talk about other assaults that are “more acceptable” and that will not result in alienation from their wives, families and communities.
“The perception that a man who has been raped is either a homosexual or will become a homosexual as a result of the rape makes it impossible for male victims to speak out about their experiences and to seek help,” read the report.
The report revealed that men are not willing to open up on sexual violence issues and attributed the reluctance to lack of information and understanding of what happens in victims’ interpersonal relationships resulting in a lack of responses that are grounded in the reality of the victims‟ lives.
“Only one man admitted that he was a perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman,” states the report.
The report points out the importance of more research on politically motivated sexual violence focusing on both male and female victims.
“Protection mechanisms need to be set up for victims of sexual violence to enable them to receive treatment and counselling in safe spaces,” read the report.
In April 2013, RAU completed a study on Zimbabweans’ perceptions of sexual violence. A survey conducted by the advocacy group on a cross section of citizens revealed that 84 percent of the male respondents and 78 percent of the female respondents in that study agreed that men can be raped by women and by other men.
Sexual violence is any violence, whether physical and or mental carried out through sexual means or by targeting the sexuality of everyone: men, women or children.
Sexual violence involves sexual torture, mutilation of the genitals, sexual humiliation or enslavement, forced incest and being forced to watch the rape of others including family members.
Post published in: News
The rape and sexual abuse of both adult and young men around the South Africa has been so greatly ignored, disrespected and discounted for, that it has created a major misconception in many that such an occurrence does not exist.
1 IN 6 MALES HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED OR RAPED
South African Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse (SAMSOSA) is a Not for Profit Company 2012/176739/08 that offers support for professionals working with male survivors of rape and sexual abuse in the form of professional development conferences, workshops and referrals. Male survivors are supported through a weekend workshop that provides the participants with the tools required to move from survivor to thriver.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
The events below will be facilitated by Mike Lew, an internationally renowned specialist from Boston, USA and author of the book; Victims No Longer: The Classic guide for Men recovering from Sexual Abuse. Mike has worked with thousands of men from around the world, in their healing from the effects of childhood sexual abuse and rape. He conducts public lectures, workshops for survivors, and trainings and consultations for mental health, medical, human service, clergy, law enforcement, and other professionals throughout the United States and Canada and in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
WORKING WITH MALES OF SEXUAL ABUSE is a one day professional development workshop for people working with men in both the professional and voluntary sector. It will be held in Johannesburg on the 17th September 2013 at the GIBS Business School and in Cape Town on the 25th September 2013 at Backsberg Estate. The cost is only R895 which includes all refreshments, lunch and notes.
MALE SEXUAL VICTIMISATION CONFERENCE to be held in Johannesburg on the 18th September 2013 at the GIBS Business School. The purpose of the conference is to provide professionals, volunteers and male survivors with the knowledge, skills and insight that will enable them to provide appropriate interventions and strategies. R795 includes refreshments, lunch and speakers notes.
VICTIMS NO LONGER is a weekend recovery workshop for non offending male survivors, 20 – 22 September 2013 at the Ngomo Safari Lodge, Cradle of Humankind. The purpose of the weekend is to provide support and strategies that will move the male survivor through the process of healing from victim to survivor to thriver in a safe, controlled and supportive environment. If you are aware of adult male survivors that would benefit from the intervention, please forward the information onto them. “As a male survivor, I have experienced the reality of rape and sexual abuse. A tipping point in my recovery as a survivor of both sexual abuse and rape, was when I travelled to Scarborough in the UK to attend a “Victims No Longer” weekend. Facilitated by author Mike Lew a world renowned expert in this field of recovery, I was afforded the opportunity for the first time ever to interact with other male survivors. I did not have to explain my feelings as the men there experienced first-hand the pain and trauma I had gone through. I am no longer a victim or a survivor; I can now proudly say I am a thriver. It was with this motivation that I founded SAMSOSA and have worked to make it possible that South Africans do not have to leave the borders of our country to derive the benefits of this life changing experience.†If a male survivor is financially unable to meet the costs of R995 including accommodation, meals and handouts, application can be made to SAMSOSA for financial assistance by contacting SAMSOSA via email admin@samsosa.org
For further information on the organisation and helpful resources visit our website http://www.samsosa.org.za
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me personally.
Rees Mann
071 280 9918
rees@samsosa.org