2 Caring for survivors:
A principled approach
Self-reflection and values clarification
GROUP EXERCISE
Reflecting on our values
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M yt h s a n d r e a l i t y
Myth: "She provoked the assault because of her sexy dress.”
Reality: Violence and abuse is never the fault of the survivor.
Myth: “A man can protect himself.”
Reality: Anyone can be subjected to sexual violence.
Myth: “Rape turned him gay.”
Reality: Gay and heterosexual men and boys are both subjected to rape. Sexual orientation is not a cause or
consequence of sexual violence.
Myth: “If I had an erection, I must have enjoyed it.”
Reality: An erection is a common, uncontrollable physical response that does not reflect desire or pleasure.
Myth: “A sex worker can't be raped. It's their job.”
Reality: Consent applies to everyone, in every situation.
Myth: “Women don't commit sexual violence."
Reality: Anyone with power can sexually harm another person. The large majority of perpetrators are men.
Some women also perpetrate sexual violence, particularly against children and adolescents.
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Self-reflection and values clarification
▪ The possibility that information will be withheld or distorted
by interpretation because of our attitudes and beliefs is something to be
avoided at all costs.
▪ If we understand that one or more characteristics of the survivor
makes it difficult for us to maintain an impartial position, we should
consider standing aside for another linguistic and cultural mediator (LCM)
(and work to to address our biases).
▪ We must be aware of our own biases, as an important way to be
professional.
▪ We have a duty to remain neutral and to help survivors, regardless of our
personal views.
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Recap
▪ Self-awareness is a lifelong journey.
▪ It is important to have an awareness of our values as they inform our beliefs
and attitudes in relation to everything.
▪ We need to understand that values underpin beliefs and beliefs underpin
behaviour. How we and others behave is a reflection of our beliefs and
values.
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Module 2
A survivor-centred approach
Module 2
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Survivor-centred approach
A survivor-centred approach aims to put the rights of each survivor at the
forefront of all actions and ensure that each survivor is treated with dignity and
respect.
By putting the survivor at the centre of the process, such an approach
promotes their recovery, reduces the risk of further harm and
reinforces their agency and self-determination.
Practicing a survivor-centred approach means establishing a relationship
with the survivor that promotes their emotional and physical safety,
builds trust and helps them to restore some control over their life.
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Guiding Principles
A survivor-centred approach is applied through four principles:
Confidentiality
Safety
Respect
Non-discrimination
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Confidentiality
Why is it important?
Confidential collection of information
▪ Confidentiality promotes safety, trust, dignity and
empowerment. during interviews
▪ People have the right to choose to whom they
will, or will not, tell their story. Sharing information only on a need-to-know basis or
in line with laws and policies
▪ Breaching confidentiality inappropriately can put
the survivor and others at risk of further harm.
Storing any information about the survivor securely
▪ If service providers do not respect confidentiality,
others will be discouraged from coming forward
for help.
Obtaining informed consent from the survivor before
What does it mean? sharing any information, including in the context of a
▪ Confidentiality means not disclosing any referral
information at any time to any party without the
informed consent of the person concerned.
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Exceptions to confidentiality
▪ There can be exceptions to confidentiality, and it is very important that the
survivor (especially children/young people and their caregivers) knows what
the limits are.
▪ Limits include:
▪ Situations in which there is the threat of ongoing harm to a child; and where the need to
protect them overrides confidentiality.
▪ Situations in which laws or policies require mandatory reporting of certain types of
violence against children.
▪ Situations in which the survivor is at risk of harming themselves or others, including
threats of suicide.
▪ Situations involving sexual exploitation or abuse by humanitarian or peacekeeping
personnel.
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Safety
Why is it important?
▪ Survivors may be at high risk of further violence – sexual and otherwise –
from:
▪ Perpetrators
▪ People protecting perpetrators
▪ Members of their own family.
What does it mean?
▪ Every person has the right to be protected from further violence.
▪ Every child has the right to be protected from harm, and as adults, we have
responsibilities to uphold that right.
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Safety
The concept of safety includes physical safety and security as well as
psychological and emotional safety.
Consider the safety needs of:
▪ Survivors;
▪ Family members and supporters; and
▪ Those providing care and support.
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Respect
Why is it important?
▪ Every survivor has the right to be treated with Having a validating, non-blaming and non-
respect and dignity and to make choices about judgemental approach
what happens.
▪ The response of the service provider can either
promote dignity and empowerment or cause Valuing the survivor and caring about their
further distress and harm. experience, history and future
What does it mean?
▪ Self-determination means respecting the dignity, The survivor makes decisions about care and this is
wishes and choices of survivors, and allowing valued and upheld
them to be in control of the helping process by
deciding who to tell and what action to take.
▪ Failing to respect dignity and self-determination
can increase feelings of helplessness and
shame, reduce the effectiveness of
interventions, cause re-victimization and further
harm, and perpetuate harmful norms.
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Non-discrimination
What does it mean?
▪ All people have an equal right to the best possible assistance without unfair
discrimination on the basis of:
▪ Gender
▪ Disability
▪ Race, ethnicity or tribe
▪ Colour
▪ Language
▪ Religious or political beliefs
▪ Status or social class, etc.
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Informed consent
The voluntary agreement of an individual who
has the legal capacity to give consent.
To provide informed consent, the individual must have the capacity and
maturity to know about and understand the services being offered and be
legally able to give their consent.
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Informed consent
To ensure consent is ‘informed,’ service providers must provide the following
information to the survivor:
▪ All the possible information and options available to the person so she/he
can make choices.
▪ Inform the person that she/he may need to share his/her information with
others who can provide additional services.
▪ Explain to the person what will happen as you work with her/him.
▪ Explain the benefits and risks of services to the person.
▪ Explain to the person that she/he has the right to decline or refuse any part
of services. Explain limits to confidentiality.
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B e st i nte re st o f t h e c h i l d
Why is it important?
▪ The primary purpose of intervening is to provide care, support and protection for
individual children.
What does it mean?
▪ Every child is unique and will be affected differently by sexual violence. Decisions and
actions affecting them should reflect what is best for the safety, well-being and
development of that particular child.
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Mandatory reporting
▪ Mandatory reporting refers to state laws and policies that mandate certain
agencies and/or people in helping professions (teachers, social workers,
health staff, etc.) to report actual or suspected child abuse (e.g., physical,
sexual, neglect, emotional and psychological abuse, unlawful sexual
intercourse).
▪ Mandatory reporting can also be mandated for cases of certain types of
violence against women (e.g., intimate partner/domestic violence, rape).
▪ To comply with mandatory reporting laws, service providers must have a
thorough understanding of the laws in their setting.
See Handout 8:
Mandatory reporting
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Mandatory reporting
▪ To be modified for setting
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Mandatory reporting
▪ To be modified for setting
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x
GROUP WORK
Guiding Principles and Linguistic Cultural
Mediation
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Recap
▪ The survivor-centred approach is important because it puts the rights of
each survivor first at the centre of all actions.
▪ For LCMs, practicing a survivor-centred approach means establishing a
relationship with the survivor that promotes the survivor’s emotional and
physical safety, builds trust and helps the person regain some control over
their life.
▪ The survivor-centred approach is applied through the Guiding Principles that
should guide the work of everyone, including LCMs, in all interactions with
the survivors.
▪ We should remember to ‘do no harm’ and make sure that our interventions
with survivors follow the Guiding principles.
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Recap
The Guiding Principles for working with survivors are:
Confidentiality
Safety
Respect
Non-discrimination
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