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KEY TO KNOW
2.1 Human rights are a foundation of the work
Aim . To strengthen understanding of human rights principles , particularly during war and conflict , and the consequences of violating these rights .
The starting point of this manual is that sexual violence against boys and men is a grave violation of human rights ; and that boys and men have been subjected to grave abuse in emergency situations such as wars , conflict and migration .
One of the manual ’ s purposes is therefore to strengthen understanding of how human rights principles protect and address the rights of male survivors of sexual violence , abuse and torture , and clarify the consequences of violating rights , both for the survivor and for society as a whole .
Human rights apply to everyone , regardless of gender , race , age , nationality , faith , or other factors . International human rights declarations and conventions assert that every person is entitled to specific rights and to be treated with dignity and respect . The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that the rights it affirms are the foundation of freedom , justice and peace . 16
States sign and ratify the specific rights set out in international agreements . When a state does this , it assumes legally binding obligations with respect to those rights . In addition , states have created several mechanisms and systems to monitor and investigate
“ Human rights values may assist us both to understand the suffering we encounter and find ways to respond to it in a respectful and helpful way .” states ’ performance of their human rights obligations , to interpret the meaning of conventions , and to receive appeals on cases .
Numerous rights are relevant to sexual violence against men and boys , most obviously the right to life and bodily integrity , the prohibition of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment , the prohibition of slavery and forced labour , and the convention on the rights of the child . These principles are deeply entrenched in international law . Sexual violence threatens life and personal integrity and can cause serious harm to individuals who are abused . States are required to follow up allegations or information about violations of fundamental rights , in particular the right not to be tortured or subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment . This means that States must investigate allegations and provide protection and remedy if violations have taken place .
Centrally , human rights laws and standards assert the duty to respect every person ’ s dignity and physical and mental integrity . They therefore provide a foundation of principle for working with people who have been exposed to sexual and other forms of abuse . In practice , this means that our conduct of psychosocial work and what we propose to people who have experienced sexual abuse must align with human rights principles . Our personal conduct and the actions we take should respect the dignity and integrity of survivors ; and we should assess the abuses they have experienced as human rights violations as well as in medical and therapeutic terms .
The present manual builds on and is inspired by the human rights framework . Identifying rights and abuses of rights is also important in practical psychosocial work . Understanding the experiences of participants and survivors in terms of rights and their violation may be creative and bring insights and can give survivors and their helpers valuable tools . Awareness of human rights , and their great importance for everyone , can be a valuable resource when working with people whose rights have