PHNOM PENH, 25-29 May 2015 – The South-South Institute (SSI) on Sexual Violence against Boys and Men held a weeklong event in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which considered conflict-related and other sexual violence against men and boys. The theme of this event – Addressing the Long Shadow – recognized that the shadow of sexual violence can be seen in the “invisibilization” and silencing of victims and in resultant social dysfunction, which produce new forms of abuse. The SSI was launched in April 2013, in Kampala, Uganda by founder members The Refugee Law Project (Uganda), The Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust (MSSAT) New Zealand and First Step (Cambodia). This was the first event of its kind held in Asia.

Senior Researcher Rebecca Surtees co-facilitated a session on research, along with Anka Mason, Jarrett Davis and Chris Dolan. The workshop “Breaking the Silence: Building the Evidence Base” explored the place of research in changing thinking and action on sexual violence against men and boys. Photos from the event are available here.

SSI 2017 will take place in New Zealand, hosted by The Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust (MSSAT).

More information about the South-South Institute and news about sexual violence against men and boys is available here.