Citation

Fernandes P, Aiello Y. Torture 2019; 29(2): 81-89.

Affiliation

Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), New South Wales, Australia. Correspondence to: pearl.fernandes@health.nsw.gov.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims)

DOI

10.7146/torture.v29i2.109332

PMID

31670706

Abstract

This paper outlines the narratives of a female and male survivor of sexual violence. It draws attention to the benefits of assisting survivors break their silence as a strategy to overcome the sequelae of shame that accompanies these acts. The two cases illustrate that both men and women experience sexual violation as de-humanising and assisting them to access and make meaning of their memories can be empowering. The need to develop a screening tool to assist survivors access treatment in a timely manner and further develop appropriate strategies incorporating both individual and group sessions is highlighted.

Language: en