Celebrating seven meaningful years of

…and other support, enabling their journey towards healing.

Victims/survivors of sexual violence have suffered some of the worst forms of violations. ASP works directly with them to bring their experiences to policymakers and support evidence-based advocacy.

ASP ensures that victims/survivors involved in its work have direct and appropriate access to healthcare and other support, so that they can heal and feel strong again.

...enable victim/survivor participation and amplify their voices.

ASP partners with victims/survivors and accompanies them in high-level events wherever it is safe and appropriate for them to do so. For example:

• 2017: Survivor champion, Kolbassia Haoussou MBE, participates in a United Nations HQ event in New York, jointly hosted by ASP and the Permanent Mission of Spain, the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG SVC).

• 2022: Omar Aguilar Silva, sexual violence survivor from Colombia, participates in a panel discussion at the International Ministerial Conference on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. This event was attended by 81 countries, of which 53 signed a political declaration committing to amplify the voices of survivors.

...on tools developed by ASP, to support responses to the unique needs of men and boy victims/survivors.

In 2020, ASP and Youth Health and Development Organization (YHDO) develop a tool to enhance healthcare providers’ capacity to respond to the unique needs of male victims/survivors of sexual violence in Afghanistan. This unique tool provides guidance to healthcare providers to assist them in improving their approach to male victims/survivors of sexual violence, ensuring the delivery of survivor-centred care and reducing barriers to healthcare.

This formed the basis of a training package that was rolled out in 2021, 2022 and 2023 across Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, Balkh, Badakshan and Nangrahar provinces in Afghanistan and in partnership with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Public Health.

...provide resources, expertise, and credibility.

ASP’s long-term, collaborative, national partnerships in focus countries are the source of expertise and understanding, ensuring ASP’s work is context-specific and sustainable.

International partnerships provide opportunities for mutual learning, and amplify ASP's critical work to a global platform.

And the steadfast support of its donors allows ASP to grow its work in an ethical and safe manner.

...mainstream CRSV against men and boys into the human rights, peace, security and justice sphere.

ASP informs the work of UN mechanisms and international justice bodies to ensure that CRSV against men and boys is explicitly recognised. For example:

• 2022: ASP presents a submission to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) advocating for the inclusion of CRSV against men and boys in a policy initiative to advance accountability for the crime against humanity of persecution on the grounds of gender under the Rome Statute.

• 2022: ASP co-authors a submission to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia (JEP), calling for CRSV against men and boys to be investigated. ASP also provides direct support to the JEP to investigate, prosecute and sanction such crimes.

...ensure in-country mechanisms include interventions on sexual violence against men and boys.

This was made possible through research and advocacy with national and international actors leading to the recognition and inclusion of men and boys as victims/survivors of sexual violence.

• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: the National Strategy to Combat Gender-Based Violence 2019-2023 includes specific recognition to respond to men and boy victims of sexual violence.

• AFGHANISTAN: the Ministry of Public Health supports ASP’s training to healthcare workers in the country from 2020-2023, in recognition of the vital need to improve responses for men and boy victims/survivors of sexual violence.

• COLOMBIA: As a member of the Gender-Based Violence sub-cluster, ASP embarks on a mapping initiative of existing support responses for men and boy victims/survivors.

...recognise men and boys as victims/survivors of sexual violence.

ASP’s targeted advocacy contributes towards the explicit recognition of sexual violence against men and boys in the following resolutions:

• 2016: ASP works closely with the Permanent Mission of Spain to secure language in Security Council Resolution 2331 which emphasises provision of services for men and boys who may have been victims/survivors of sexual violence in conflict.
• 2019: ASP – in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany, OSRSG SVC, and others – ensures that Security Council Resolution 2467 calls for the protection of men and boys in conflict and post-conflict situations, including in detention settings and when associated with armed groups.
• 2022: ASP works closely with a group of Syrian NGOs and relevant governments to ensure the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic features conflict-related sexual violence against men and boys.

...examine a severely under-researched topic, and strengthen the case for policy changes, legal reform and improved support systems for victims/survivors.

ASP’s research creates unique insights into the challenges faced by men and boys globally. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of conflict-related sexual violence and helps craft specific and relevant prevention and response strategies.

ASP’s research also provides the foundation for informed action and advocacy, offering credible evidence to further support its mission.

• 2018: ASP’s report 'Destroyed from Within: Sexual Violence against Men and Boys in Syria and Turkey' contributes to international recognition of sexual violence against men in the context of detention, including through two key resolutions at the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council (see above). It also generates advocacy pressure to set up humanitarian responses for men and boys as victims/survivors of sexual violence in Turkey and other receiving countries.

• 2022: Research published by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG CAAC) and conducted by ASP, 'Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Against Boys Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups in Reintegration Programmes', contributes to the Child Protection sub-cluster in Central African Republic recognising the need to address this abuse against boys and indeed requesting support from ASP.

...prove that ASP has a firm seat at the table, providing an undiluted focus on the issue of sexual violence against men and boys.

Through workshops, panel discussions, symposiums and knowledge building sessions, ASP connects academics, researchers, policymakers, advocacy groups, governments, humanitarian workers, donors and NGOs. Over seven years ASP has built networks, established partnerships and formed alliances – harnessing a multidisciplinary approach and strengthening the impact of collective efforts on this issue.

ASP not only shares its research and insights, but strives to continually learn and enhance its own capacity and knowledge.