"We Keep It in our Heart": Sexual Violence Against Men and Boys in the Syria Crisis

(UNHCR)

As the civil war in Syria further deteriorated, accounts of systematic human rights abuses continued to emerge, including torture, starvation, and widespread sexual violence against civilians and combatants. More than five million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries in search of safety, yet they continued to face challenges of poverty, discrimination, as well as sexual violence and exploitation. Some attention has been given to women and girls who have suffered sexual violence in Syria and in displacement; however, less is known about male survivors, including ways to meet their needs. This exploratory study examined sexual violence against men and boys in the Syria crisis and their access to services in Jordan, Lebanon, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). In addition to a review of the literature and an online survey completed by 33 key informants. In-country data collection was undertaken in October 2016.

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