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The 6th South-South Institute on Sexual Violence successfully concluded on May 8, 2025, bringing together survivor advocates, practitioners, academics, and policymakers from across multiple countries and continents.
Hosted at the Kampala Kolping Hotel, the Institute featured three days of intensive dialogues, powerful testimonies, and constructive exchanges centered on the theme "Across Genders, Across Continents." Participants explored the universality of sexual violence while acknowledging the unique contextual factors that shape experiences across different regions.
The event marked several important milestones in the ongoing work to address conflict-related sexual violence, including the recognition of increased international awareness of male sexual violence, the formation of new survivor support groups, and the development of more nuanced approaches to trauma healing and advocacy.
Note: A comprehensive report and photo gallery from the event are currently in preparation and will be published here in the coming weeks.
Professor Chris Dolan delivered a comprehensive keynote that traced the 12-year evolution of the South-South Institute, highlighting its intentional movement between continents. He emphasized unprecedented international recognition of male sexual violence while noting challenges with tightening aid budgets and increasing scale of the problem across multiple contexts.
The "Championing Survivor Leadership" panel featured powerful testimonies from leaders of six different survivor support groups. Representatives from Men of Hope, Women of Hope, Tunaweza, Unity Strengths Group, Men of Courage, and AMERUV shared their journeys from victims to survivors to advocates, demonstrating how survivor-led initiatives transform individual trauma into collective resilience.
Mental health practitioners from StrongMinds and Refugee Law Project discussed approaches to healing, emphasizing the holistic nature of recovery across physical, psychological, and social dimensions. Survivors highlighted the power of peer support, with one testifying: "When you hear from others their problems, you heal yourself."
Medical practitioners shared insights on treating survivors, discussing both physical and psychological dimensions of sexual violence. They highlighted challenges in healthcare systems including continuity of care issues, integration vs. specialized care tensions, resource limitations, and the need for specialist skills in treating complex cases.
Organizations including Refugee Law Project, Lutheran World Federation, and African Youth Women and Development presented their approaches to supporting survivors. RLP introduced their "Screen, Refer, Support, Document" (SRSD) model, while discussions revealed concerning patterns of underreporting among male survivors, with statistics showing that only 2% of formally reported GBV cases involved male survivors.
The final day examined legal frameworks addressing sexual violence at international, regional, and national levels. Panelists highlighted gaps between gender-neutral international law (such as the Rome Statute) and gender-specific national laws that often exclude male victims, creating barriers for access to justice and support services.
Several important themes emerged across the three days of discussions:
The Institute demonstrated significant progress from basic awareness of sexual violence against men to more nuanced comprehension of its complex impacts across genders, generations, and geographies.
Survivor leadership emerged as a central principle, with participants emphasizing the critical importance of survivor voices in shaping interventions, policies, and narratives about sexual violence.
Discussions highlighted how sexual violence affects not only direct survivors but also their families and communities across generations, requiring holistic approaches to healing and support.
Participants noted tensions between increased recognition of male sexual violence and concerning trends including funding constraints, ongoing conflicts generating new survivors, and political challenges.
Multiple survivors emphasized that recovery from trauma is not a straightforward progression but involves setbacks and is significantly impacted by practical circumstances like economic security.
Legal and policy discussions revealed persistent gaps between written frameworks and practical implementation, particularly regarding gender-neutral approaches and access to justice.
Access event materials and stay informed about forthcoming resources.
Comprehensive documentation of the event
Coming SoonProgram Management:
Ms. Atim Esther
Email: eatim@refugeelawproject.org
Media & Communications:
Mr. Wokorachi Wilfred Mogi
Email: mwokorach@refugeelawproject.org
For information about future South-South Institute events and activities, please contact the event organizers or visit the main SSI website regularly.
Kampala Kolping Hotel
Plot 132, Bombo Road, Makerere Kavule
Kampala, Uganda
