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The need for humanitarian aid has risen dramatically recently, with approximately 300 million people worldwide requiring assistance in 2024 (Humanitarian Action, 2024). This necessitates that social work researchers understand the factors that impede effective responses. Sexual violence (SV), which can have devastating mental and physical health consequences for survivors, has been shown to affect the most vulnerable groups during humanitarian emergencies (Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility [GBV AOR], 2019). Women are known to be at high risk for SV, and there is a need for continued advocacy for services for this group (GBV AOR, 2019). There is also a growing concern that there is a lack of preparation when responding to the priorities of other groups of SV survivors, including cisgender, heterosexual men and LGBTIQ+ individuals (Andersen & Buttigieg, 2024; Norwegian Red Cross & International Committee of the Red Cross, 2022). The present study applied an intersectional and gender-as-relational lens (Myrttinen & Shulz, 2023) to conduct a qualitative inquiry with key informants (humanitarian practitioners and donors) to examine their perspectives on the barriers to and facilitators of the inclusion of these groups.
Methods
This study involved a collaboration between a university and a large NGO. From October 2023 to May 2024, purposive sampling was used to recruit 23 key informants (i.e., individuals who can provide valuable insights on a specific topic due to their firsthand knowledge [Carroll et al., 2004]) to participate in in-depth interviews. Key informants were chosen based on their experience working with the targeted populations; they were required to have a minimum of six months of experience in a priority area of humanitarian response. Following the recording and transcription of the interviews, thematic analysis was conducted (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Several strategies were employed to enhance rigor, including maintaining an audit trail, practicing reflexivity, utilizing peer debriefing, and applying negative case analysis.
Results
Interviews revealed barriers to addressing the priorities of SV survivors who are cisgender, heterosexual men or LGBTIQ+, and offered recommendations to enhance inclusivity in humanitarian response efforts. Thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) encountering tensions in advocating for these groups, (2) moving beyond dichotomies to address the root causes of SV and the priorities of diverse groups, (3) preparing humanitarian practitioners to prevent and respond to SV among diverse groups, and (4) confronting organizational barriers to fulfilling humanitarian principles. Key informants emphasized the importance of shifting away from binary conceptualizations of gender and challenging biases regarding who is considered a survivor of SV.
Conclusion and Implications
Results from this study highlight the need for increased awareness of the priorities of SV survivors who are cisgender, heterosexual men and LGBTIQ+ individuals within humanitarian response efforts. The results support decolonial approaches to humanitarian work that prioritize local organizations and groups in developing inclusive response efforts (Hart & Kruger, 2021). These findings also inform transitional justice strategies that address human rights violations and promote peace-building initiatives that account for diverse individuals facing conflict and humanitarian crises (Shulz, 2019).