Supporting displaced adolescent boys and male youth in all their diversity who are survivors or at risk of sexual exploitation: A toolkit for frontline workers in humanitarian contexts

This toolkit—developed by the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) with UN Women—is a comprehensive resource to enhance the capacity of frontline humanitarian workers to integrate protection and support for adolescent boys and male youth (ABMY), including persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), into protection programs.

Findings from research as part of the “Sexual violence project” showed that practitioners and service providers lack the tools and resources to effectively address sexual violence perpetrated against male survivors in humanitarian and conflict-affected settings, especially ABMY in all their diversity. Additional evidence showed that practitioner and provider attitudes, biases, and misconceptions, as well as a lack of resources, were major deterrents for male survivors’ accessing and receiving quality services and care that meets their immediate and longer-term needs following sexual violence. To address this one aspect of this gap, this toolkit was developed to increase prevention, support, and access to services for displaced adolescent boys (10–19 years) and male youth (15–24 years), including those with diverse SOGIESC, who are survivors or at risk of sexual exploitation.

Compiled with evidence-based guidance, capacity enhancing materials, and training exercises and tools, the toolkit primarily focuses on working with adolescent boys under 18 years, but also provides considerations for adult male youth, aged 18–24 years.