Do not suffer in silence

This perception has been challenged by the launch of a registered organisation South African Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Samsosa) was launched in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

“Samsosa was launched as a resource, referral and support service to non-offending male victims and survivors of rape and abuse” says founder Rees Mann.

Mann is committed to the plight of men who have a history of sexual abuse.

“The sad reality is rape and sexual abuse of both adult and young men has been greatly ignored, disrespected and discounted for, that it has created a major misconception in many that such occurrence does not exist,” says Mann.

A sexual abuse and male rape victim himself, he adds it must be known that a victim does not choose for this to happen to him.

People of all walks of life can be the victim of sexual abuse. It doesn’t matter what your age, race or cultural background is, everyone is at risk of becoming a victim.

FERH

Defining sexual abuse or assault in legal terms is any sexual contact or violation against a person’s will without consent.

According to Far East Rand Hospital (FERH) spokesman Hendrik Buda, the Rape and Crisis Centre at the FERH has seen and treated about five male rape victims.

He adds the staff at the centre will send males aged 17 and older to Ikhaya lo Khuselo in Duduza where they are treated by a social worker, a counsellor or a psychologist.

“Victims do not stay at the centre, but are treated in sessions. Treatment depends on the victim and it varies from one person to the next.

“Victims are treated in such a way that after healing, they are able to continue with their normal lives,” says auxiliary social worker Nhlanhla Ngubo.

“There is nothing specific about him that makes him more vulnerable to this abuse,” explains Mann.

Sexual abuse, like any form of abuse is a criminal offence and is never the fault of the person it happens to.

“You are under no circumstances responsible for being assaulted or sexually abused. The person who did this to you is the only person responsible for your sexual assault; they are the ones to blame,” says Mann.

Males raping males is more rampant in prisons than anywhere else. Male-on-male rape is a cause without a voice, with very few survivors and activists who are willing and able to speak on its behalf.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and related matters) Amendment Act, No 32, 2007, is the act/law within the South African Police Services that deals with rape and sexual offences.

According to Springs police spokesman Captain Johannes Ramphora, before a case docket of rape can be opened, a victim is taken to a trauma centre room for evaluation by volunteers.

“Trained staff are available to deal with victims of rape and training for staff members is an ongoing project in Springs,” says Capt Ramphora.

A victim has the right to be treated fairly and spoken to in a correct, responsible, compassionate manner regarding the traumatic event they have faced.

According to Capt Ramphora the police have an obligation to victims and should be respectful at all times.

“Male rape convictions are exactly the same as in female rape cases – rape is rape,” concludes Capt Ramphora.

He adds that no male rape convictions have been reported according to statistics** available at the time of printing.

What to do if you were raped?

• Find a safe place, tell someone you trust what has happened to you.It may be difficult, but this person can help you with the process.
• n Whether you are injured or not, go straight to the hospital. Being the victim of rape can have major consequences if you are not checked for any sexually transmitted diseases.
• Do not throw away your clothes or wash yourself after the event they may be critical evidence that can help the police in their investigation.
• If you were drunk or on drugs at the time of the rape, don’t let that stop you from reporting the rape. Being intoxicated is not a crime, rape is.
• If you want to report the rape, go to the police station nearest to where the rape took place.
• Ensure you receive an HIV test and antiretroviral treatment within 72 hours to prevent you from contracting HIV and receive antibiotics to prevent any sexual transmitted infections.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms which may be displayed by male victims. A survivor will not necessarily experience all of these symptoms, but is very likely that they will show at least one or two.

The impact it has on men include anger, confusion, shame, numbness, guilt, sexual dysfunction, suicidal feelings, anxiety, frustration, flashbacks, fear and helplessness.

Rees says like women, men are also likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and an array of emotions, yet due to gender socialisation and upbringing, men find it a lot more difficult to come to terms with what they are facing.

“They tend to show more aggression and hostility than fear and tearfulness,” he says.

Perhaps few male victims of rape report their ordeals because they do not categorise their experience as rape.

When men are raped, they may face tremendous personal and social insecurity and fear being judged as homosexual.

“In these cases, they opt to remain quiet in order to avoid being labelled a homosexual,” says Rees.

According to Thea Zwiegers a local psychologist who recently dealt with a male abuse patient; long term therapy is very important.

“Victims also have to look after themselves to change the irrational behaviour into rational behaviour,” she says.

Reeds adds victims have to maintain good health care, breathing, relaxation and get enough sleep as it is a time to rest and recharge. Self-care will slowly become easier as time passes.

His advice to victims is that survival is possible and reporting the rape or abuse is vital for recovery.

Myths

Myths, public perceptions and stigmas of a man being raped, go hand in hand.

One of the most prevalent myths surrounding the common misperceptions of male sexual abuse is that boys and men cannot fall victim to these crimes.

The perception is that males who are sexually abused will go on to become abusers themselves, all perpetrators of sexual abuse are males and males sexually abused by males are, or will become, bisexual or gay.

But according to Rees nothing can be further from the truth.

“To clear up this false belief, an act of sexual abuse and an individual’s sexual orientation are totally and completely separate and unrelated,” says Rees.

He adds that in no way does being the victim of a sexual assaulted decide ones sexual orientation.

A sexual assault can cause confusion about one’s sexual orientation due to the traumatic nature of such an event, but it cannot make someone gay or bisexual.

Help

Victims should come forward or contact the Springs police station on 011 362 5700/19/20, Lifeline on 011 422 4242 or in an emergency contact 10111.

For information on Samsosa and the services they offer visit www.samsosa.org.za or to find out about Ikhaya lo Khuselo Centre contact them on 011 730 4900.

**According to the Springs police, there are no official statistics are available in South Africa due to the denial of its occurrence. However, but an American study conducted in the United Kingdom shows one in six men will have been sexual abused or raped in their lifetime.