The need for this Guidance Note came out of many discussions around how we speak about sexual violence – within humanitarian organisations, across them, and at the global level – following the attack on Terrain Hotel in July 2016. While this was not the first time humanitarian aid workers have been sexually attacked on a large scale, it was unique as the brave survivors talked about their experiences publically. News breaking on this incident sent shockwaves through the humanitarian community, as many humanitarian aid workers, even those based in South Sudan, did not know the full extent of what had happened in July 2016.
This is not to say that all were unaware of the events – many did know – but little information left South Sudan, and even HQ level staff was startled to realise how vulnerable their organisations might be on the ground. Just as concerning, no one discussed the fact that the events at Terrain Hotel were not the first rapes of expatriate female humanitarian staff by government forces in Juba that year; this was primarily because humanitarian organisations had kept these previous events quiet, which may have potentially placed humanitarian staff in South Sudan at risk of further acts of sexual violence.
This tells us a few different things about the current approach to sexual violence issues within the humanitarian community. First, it is still a stigmatised experience, for survivors and their employers. Second, the lack of information sharing may be placing humanitarian aid workers at risk, and undermining the safety and security of humanitarian operations more broadly. Third, the lack of transparency and information sharing on a global level – not being honest about vulnerabilities, worries, and faults – is contributing to the idea that humanitarian organisations are not struggling with how to address sexual violence in their workplaces.
Communicating as humanitarian organisations about the sexual violence experiences of humanitarian aid workers has multiple purposes. It helps to raise the voices of survivors, destigmatise their experiences, and open up conversations about the issue. It can change behaviours and norms, shift approaches to addressing sexual violence incidents, and create changes to prevention measures, policies, and procedures. Communicating about this issue can assist in the pursuit of justice and accountability. It can establish models for other humanitarian organisations and change the status quo. There is always value in promoting transparency, professionalism, and vulnerability, as it encourages growth throughout the humanitarian community.
What is set out within this document is a series of suggestions on how humanitarian organisations can approach improving or shifting how they communicate about sexual violence – internally, at the field level, and globally. Not every suggestion will be suitable for all incidents of sexual violence of course; this document does not suggest, for example, that internal incidents should be communicated across organisations at the field level. Contextualisation is also important, particularly in locations where sexual violence incidents may be punishable by death or severe harm, as is the involvement of effected staff.
Humanitarian organisations are encouraged to take the ideas and principles outlined in this document and make them their own, build on them, and share the lessons learned.